Stress features for crack redirection and protection in glass containers

ABSTRACT

A glass container comprises a glass body comprising a first region under a compressive stress extending from a surface of the glass body to a depth of compression and a second region extending from the depth of compression into a thickness of the glass body, the second region being under a tensile stress. The glass container also includes a localized compressive stress region having a localized compressive stress extending from the surface to a localized depth of compression within the body. The localized depth of compression is greater than the depth of compression of the first region. The glass container also includes a crack re-direction region extending in a predetermined propagation direction, wherein the crack re-direction region possesses a higher tensile stress than the tensile stress in the second region in a sub-region of the crack re-direction region, the sub-region extending substantially perpendicular to the predetermined propagation direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 ofU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/053,860 filed on Jul. 20, 2020,the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field

The present specification generally relates to glass containers, such asglass containers for storing pharmaceutical compositions.

Technical Background

A concern for food and drug manufacturers is maintaining the sterilityof package contents from failing during transport and storage until use.While glass containers are superior to many alternative materials, theyare not unbreakable and occasionally experience damage from handling andtransport. Cracks that extend through the wall thickness may form,compromising content sterility but not leading to catastrophic failureof the package. Additional features of glass containers, such asadhesive labels, may render such cracks less noticeable to users andthus remain in use despite the compromised sterility.

SUMMARY

A first aspect of the present disclosure includes a method of making aglass container having a first surface and a second surface separated bya thickness, the method comprises forming a first region under acompressive stress on the first surface of the glass container, whereinthe first region extends from the first surface to a depth ofcompression in the glass container; forming a second region under acentral tension, the second region extending from the depth ofcompression into the thickness, wherein the central tension issufficient for self-propagation of a crack at the first surface from anorigination point of the crack; forming a crack re-direction region inthe first surface, wherein the crack re-direction region extends in apredetermined propagation direction for the crack and comprises a highercentral tension than a remainder of the glass article in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the predetermined propagation directionsuch that, upon the crack propagating and reaching the crackre-direction region, the crack is redirected along the predeterminedpropagation direction.

A second aspect of the present disclosure may include the first aspect,wherein the glass container comprises a body having an interior surfaceand an exterior surface, the interior surface defining an interiorvolume having an axis, wherein the predetermined propagation directionis substantially perpendicular to the axis.

A third aspect of the present disclosure may include the first aspect orthe second aspect, wherein the thickness of the glass container varieswithin the crack re-direction region such that the crack re-directionregion comprises a thin region extending substantially parallel to theaxis where the thickness is less than an average thickness of the glasscontainer within the crack re-direction region.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of the firstthrough third aspects, wherein the crack-redirection direction regionextends around at least a portion of an outer circumference of the glasscontainer.

A fifth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of the firstthrough fourth aspects, wherein the thickness of the glass article inthe crack re-direction region varies sinusoidally parallel to the axis.

A sixth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of the firstthrough fifth aspects, wherein the crack re-direction region extendsaround an entirety of the outer circumference of the glass container.

A seventh aspect of the present disclosure may include any of the firstthrough sixth aspects, wherein the first surface is the exterior surfaceof the glass container.

An eighth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of the firstthrough seventh aspects, wherein the first surface is the interior ofthe glass container.

A ninth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of the firstthrough eighth aspects, wherein forming the first and second regionscomprises forming the glass container from a glass composition; andforming the first region and the second region by subjecting the firstsurface of the glass container to chemical tempering.

A tenth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of the firstthrough ninth aspects, wherein the glass composition comprises analuminosilicate glass composition.

An eleventh aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefirst through tenth aspects, wherein forming the glass article from theglass composition comprises: forming a glass tube comprising the glasscomposition; and converting the glass tube into the glass container,wherein forming the crack re-direction region occurs during theconversion of the glass tube into the glass container.

A twelfth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of the firstthrough eleventh aspects, wherein forming the crack re-direction regioncomprises scanning a pulsed laser beam in a predetermined pattern whilethe glass tube is heated to a softening temperature of the glasscomposition during the converting of the glass tube into the glasscontainer.

A thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure may include a methodforming a glass container having a crack re-direction region, the methodcomprising: providing a stock material formed from a glass composition;shaping the stock material into a glass article having a body extendingbetween an interior surface and an exterior surface defining an interiorvolume; forming a compressively stressed layer in the glass article, thecompressively stressed layer extending from at least one of the interiorsurface and the exterior surface to a depth of compression in athickness of the body; and forming the crack re-direction region withinthe glass article, wherein the crack re-direction region comprises asub-region having a higher central tension than a remainder of the glassarticle, wherein the sub-region extends in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a predetermined propagation direction.

A fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure may include the thirteenthaspect, wherein: the stock material comprises glass tubing; the methodfurther comprises converting the glass tubing into the glass article;forming the crack re-direction region comprises forming the sub-regionof the crack re-direction region during the conversion of the glasstubing into the glass article; and the thickness of the sub-region isless than an average thickness of the body.

A fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thethirteenth through fourteenth aspects, wherein forming the sub-regioncomprises scanning a pulsed laser beam in a predetermined pattern on theglass article.

A sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thethirteenth through fifteenth aspects, wherein forming the sub-regioncomprises contacting the glass tubing during the conversion of the glasstubing into the glass article with a shaping element.

A seventeenth aspect of the present disclosure may include a glasscontainer comprising: a glass body comprising a first region under acompressive stress extending from a surface of the glass body to a depthof compression and a second region extending from the depth ofcompression into a thickness of the glass body, the second region undera tensile stress sufficient for self-propagation of a crack from anorigination point of the crack in a propagation direction; and a crackre-direction region on the surface of the glass body, the crackre-direction region extending in a predetermined propagation directionfor the crack. The crack re-direction region comprises a greater tensilestress than the tensile stress in the second region in a sub-region ofthe crack re-direction region. The sub-region extends substantiallyperpendicular to the predetermined propagation direction such that, uponthe crack propagating into the crack re-direction region, the crack isredirected along the predetermined propagation direction.

An eighteenth aspect of the present disclosure may include theseventeenth aspect, wherein the glass container comprises one of abottle, vial, ampoule, syringe, or cartridge.

A nineteenth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of theseventeenth through eighteenth aspects, wherein the predeterminedpropagation direction is a circumferential direction substantiallyperpendicular to an axis of the glass container.

A twentieth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of theseventeenth through nineteenth aspects, wherein the thickness varieswithin the crack re-direction region such that the sub-region of thecrack re-direction region comprises a thin region extendingsubstantially parallel to the axis where the thickness is less than anaverage thickness of the glass article.

A twenty first aspect of the present disclosure includes glass containercomprising: a body comprising a glass composition, the body having aninterior surface, an exterior surface, and a wall thickness extendingbetween the interior surface and the exterior surface, wherein the bodycomprises a localized compressive stress region having a localizedcompressive stress extending from the exterior surface to a localizeddepth of compression within the body, wherein: the localized compressivestress region extends farther into the body than any regions ofcompressive stress adjacent to the localized compressive region.

A twenty second aspect of the present disclosure may include the twentyfirst aspect, wherein the glass container comprises a pharmaceuticalcontainer.

A twenty third aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the twenty second aspects, wherein the localizeddepth of compression extends greater than or equal to 2% of the wallthickness and less than or equal to 25% of the wall thickness.

A twenty fourth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the twenty third aspects, wherein the localizeddepth of compression extends greater than or equal to 20% of the wallthickness and less than or equal to 25% of the wall thickness.

A twenty fifth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the twenty fourth aspects, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region comprises a compressive stress of greater thanor equal to 50 MPa.

A twenty sixth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the twenty fifth aspects, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region comprises a surface compressive stress ofgreater than or equal to 75 MPa.

A twenty seventh aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the twenty sixth aspects, wherein the surfacecompressive stress is greater than or equal to 100 MPa.

A twenty eighth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the twenty seventh aspects, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region overlaps with a compressively stressed layerof the glass container under a compressive stress such that, within thelocalized compressive stress region, the body comprises the compressivestress of the compressively stressed layer to the first depth ofcompression and the localized depth of stress from the first depth ofcompression to the localized depth of compression.

A twenty ninth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the twenty eighth aspects, wherein the glasscomposition comprises an aluminosilicate glass composition.

A thirtieth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the twenty ninth aspects, wherein the glasscontainer comprises a vial having a base, a barrel connected to the basevia a heel, a shoulder extending from the barrel, and a neck extendingfrom the shoulder, wherein the localized compressive stress region isdisposed in at least one of the neck, the heel, and the barrel.

A thirty first aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the thirtieth aspects, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region is disposed in the heel.

A thirty second aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the twenty thirty first aspects, further comprisingan additional localized compressive stress region having an additionallocalized compressive stress extending from the interior surface to anadditional localized depth of compression within the body.

A thirty third aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thetwenty first through the thirty second aspects, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region and the additional localized compressivestress region oppose one another to form a region of central tensionbetween the localized compression stress region and the additionallocalized compressive stress region, wherein the region of centraltension facilitates branching of a crack propagating through the wallthickness to render the glass container unusable.

A thirty fourth aspect of the present disclosure includes a glasscontainer comprising: a glass body comprising a first region under acompressive stress extending from a surface of the glass body to a depthof compression and a second region extending from the depth ofcompression into a thickness of the glass body, the second region beingunder a tensile stress; and a localized compressive stress region havinga localized compressive stress extending from the surface to a localizeddepth of compression within the body, wherein: the localized depth ofcompression is greater than or equal to 2% of the wall thickness of thebody and less than or equal to 25% of the wall thickness of the body,and the localized depth of compression is greater than the depth ofcompression of the first region.

A thirty fifth aspect of the present disclosure may include the thirtyfourth aspect, wherein the localized compressive stress region overlapswith the first region such that, within the localized compressive stressregion, the glass body possesses the compressive stress of the firstregion to the first depth of compression and the localized depth ofstress from the first depth of compression to the localized depth ofcompression.

A thirty sixth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thethirty fourth through the thirty fifth aspects, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region comprises a compressive stress of greater thanor equal to 50 MPa.

A thirty seventh aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thethirty fourth through the thirty sixth aspects, wherein the surface ofthe glass body is an exterior surface of the glass container.

A thirty eighth aspect of the present disclosure may include a methodforming a glass container having a localized compressive stress region,the method comprising: providing a stock material formed from a glasscomposition; shaping the stock material into a glass article having abody with a thickness extending between an interior surface and anexterior surface, the body defining an interior volume; forming alocalized compressive stress region in the glass article, the localizedcompressive stress region having a localized compressive stressextending from the exterior surface or the interior surface to alocalized depth of compression within the body, wherein the localizeddepth of compression is greater than or equal to 2% of the thickness andless than or equal to 25% of the thickness, wherein forming thelocalized compressive stress region comprises locally applying a coolantto a portion of the glass article when the glass article is heated to astarting temperature above a softening temperature of the glasscomposition such that the localized compressive stress region extendsfarther into the body than any regions of compressive stress adjacent tothe localized compressive region.

A thirty ninth aspect of the present disclosure may include the thirtyeighth aspect, further comprising subjecting the glass article toion-exchange strengthening after forming the localized compressivestress region to form a first region on the exterior surface under acompressive stress, the first region extending from the exterior surfaceto a depth of compression that is less than the localized depth ofcompression.

A fortieth aspect of the present disclosure may in include any of thethirty eighth aspects through the thirty ninth aspects, wherein locallyapplying the coolant to the portion of the glass article induces atransient tensile stress in a central portion of the thickness thatinduces propagation of any cracks formed in the central portion.

A forty first aspect of the present disclosure may in include any of thethirty eighth aspects through the fortieth aspects, further comprisingflame washing an entirety of the exterior surface prior to forming thelocalized compressive stress region to eliminate conversion flawsinduced by the shaping of the stock material into the glass article.

A forty second of the present disclosure may in include any of thethirty eighth aspects through the forty first aspects, wherein locallyapplying the coolant to the portion of the glass article comprises:positioning a collar proximate to the portion of the glass article whenthe glass article is heated to the starting temperature, the collarincluding at least one feed for the coolant, wherein the collar isshaped in a manner that corresponds to the portion of the glass article,wherein the collar comprises contact points that contact the portion ofthe glass article to control a gap between a fluid manifold of thecollar and the portion of the glass article; and providing the coolantto the portion of the glass article to form the localized compressivestress region.

A forty third aspect of the present disclosure may in include any of thethirty eighth aspects through the forty second aspects, wherein theglass article is not subjected to annealing heat treatments after theformation of the localized compressive stress region.

A forty fourth aspect of the present disclosure may in include any ofthe thirty eighth aspects through the forty third aspects, wherein theglass container comprises a vial having a base, a barrel connected tothe base via a heel, a shoulder extending from the barrel, and a neckextending from the shoulder, wherein the portion of the glass article towhich the coolant is applied comprises at least one of the neck and theheel

A forty fifth aspect of the present disclosure may include a glasscontainer comprising: a glass body comprising a first region under acompressive stress extending from a surface of the glass body to a depthof compression and a second region extending from the depth ofcompression into a thickness of the glass body, the second region beingunder a tensile stress; a localized compressive stress region having alocalized compressive stress extending from the surface to a localizeddepth of compression within the body, wherein: the localized depth ofcompression is greater than the depth of compression of the firstregion; and a crack re-direction region in the glass body, the crackre-direction region extending in a predetermined propagation direction,wherein the crack re-direction region possesses a higher tensile stressthan the tensile stress in the second region in a sub-region of thecrack re-direction region, the sub-region extending substantiallyperpendicular to the predetermined propagation direction.

A forty sixth aspect of the present disclosure may in include any of theforty fifth aspect, wherein the sub-region of the crack re-directionregion comprises a variation in thickness at the surface of the glassbody.

A forty seventh aspect of the present disclosure may include any of theforty fifth through the forty sixth aspects, wherein the surface of theglass body comprises an exterior surface of the glass container.

A forty eighth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of theforty fifth through the forty seventh aspects, wherein the crackre-direction region overlaps with the localized compressive stressregion in an overlap region.

A forty ninth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of theforty fifth through the forty eighth aspects, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region overlaps with the first region such that,within the localized compressive stress region, the glass body possessesthe compressive stress of the first region to the first depth ofcompression and the localized depth of stress from the first depth ofcompression to the localized depth of compression.

A fiftieth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of the fortyfifth through the forty ninth aspects, wherein the localized compressivestress region comprises a compressive stress of greater than or equal to50 MPa.

A fifty first aspect of the present disclosure may include any of theforty fifth through the fiftieth aspects, wherein the glass body isformed from an aluminosilicate glass composition.

A fifty second aspect of the present disclosure may include any of theforty fifth through the fifty first aspects, wherein the glass containercomprises a vial having a base, a barrel connected to the base via aheel, a shoulder extending from the barrel, and a neck extending fromthe shoulder.

A fifty third aspect of the present disclosure may include any of theforty fifth through the fifty first aspects, wherein the crackre-direction region is disposed in the barrel proximate to at least oneof the heel and the shoulder.

A fifty fourth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of theforty fifth through the fifty third aspects, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region is disposed in at least one of the neck andthe heel.

A fifty fifth aspect of the present disclosure may include a methodforming a glass container, the method comprising: providing a stockmaterial formed from a glass composition; shaping the stock materialinto a glass article having a body extending between an interior surfaceand an exterior surface, the body defining an interior volume; formingthe crack re-direction region within the glass article, wherein thecrack re-direction region comprises a sub-region having a higher centraltension than a remainder of the glass article, wherein the sub-regionextends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a predeterminedpropagation direction; and forming a localized compressive stress regionin the glass article, the localized compressive stress region having alocalized compressive stress extending from the interior surface or theexterior surface to a localized depth of compression within the body,wherein the localized depth of compression is greater than or equal to2% of a thickness of the body and less than or equal 25% of thethickness of the body, wherein forming the localized compressive stressregion comprises locally applying a coolant to a portion of the glassarticle when the glass article is heated to a starting temperature abovea softening temperature of the glass composition.

A fifty sixth aspect of the present disclosure may include the fiftyfifth aspect, further comprising forming a compressively stressed layerin the glass article, the compressively stressed layer extending from atleast one of the interior surface and the exterior surface to a depth ofcompression into a thickness of the body.

A fifty seventh aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefifty fifth through the fifty sixth aspects, wherein forming thecompressively stressed layer comprises subjecting the glass article toion-exchange strengthening after forming the localized compressivestress region to form a first region on the exterior surface under acompressive stress, the first region extending from the exterior surfaceto the depth of compression, wherein the depth of compression is lessthan the localized depth of compression.

A fifty eighth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefifty fifth through the fifty seventh aspects, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region overlaps with the first region on the externalsurface.

A fifty ninth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefifty fifth through the fifty eighth aspects, wherein the crackre-direction region overlaps with the localized compressive stressregion on the external surface.

A sixtieth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of the fiftyfifth through the fifty ninth aspects, further comprising flame washingan entirety of the exterior surface prior to forming the localizedcompressive stress region to eliminate conversion flaws induced by theshaping of the stock material into the glass article.

A sixth first aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefifty fifth through the sixtieth aspects, wherein locally applying thecoolant to the portion of the glass article comprises: positioning acollar proximate to the portion of the glass article when the glassarticle is heated to the starting temperature, the collar including atleast one feed for the coolant, wherein the collar is shaped in a mannerthat corresponds to the portion of the glass article; and providing thecoolant to the portion of the glass article to form the localizedcompressive stress region.

A sixty second aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefifty fifth through the sixty first aspects, wherein the collarcomprises contact points that contact the portion of the glass articleto control a gap between a fluid manifold of the collar and the portionof the glass article.

A sixty third aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefifty fifth through the sixty second aspects, wherein the glasscontainer comprises a vial having a base, a barrel connected to the basevia a heel, a shoulder extending from the barrel, and a neck extendingfrom the shoulder, wherein the portion of the glass article to which thecoolant is applied comprises at least one of the neck and the heel

A sixty fourth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefifty fifth through the sixty third aspects, wherein forming the crackre-direction region comprises forming the sub-region of the crackre-direction region during the shaping of the stock material into theglass article, wherein a thickness of the sub-region is less than anaverage thickness of the body.

A sixty fifth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefifty fifth through the sixty fourth aspects, wherein forming thesub-region comprises scanning a pulsed laser beam in a predeterminedpattern on the glass article.

A sixty sixth aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefifty fifth through the sixty fifth aspects, wherein forming thesub-region comprises contacting the stock material during the shaping ofthe stock material into the glass article with a shaping element havinga shape corresponding to a predetermined shape of the sub-region.

A sixty seventh aspect of the present disclosure may include any of thefifty fifth through the sixty sixth aspects, wherein a thickness of aportion of the crack re-direction region is greater than an averagethickness of the body.

Additional features and advantages of the processes and systemsdescribed herein will be set forth in the detailed description whichfollows and, in part, will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart from that description or recognized by practicing the embodimentsdescribed herein, including the detailed description which follows, theclaims, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description describe various embodiments and areintended to provide an overview or framework for understanding thenature and character of the claimed subject matter. The accompanyingdrawings are included to provide a further understanding of the variousembodiments, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate the various embodiments describedherein, and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples and operations of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplaryin nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by theclaims. The following detailed description of the illustrativeembodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with thefollowing drawings, where like structure is indicated with likereference numerals and in which:

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a cross section of a glass containerincluding a crack re-direction region and a localized compressive stressregion, according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 2 schematically depicts a compressively stressed layer in a portionof the sidewall of the glass container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically depicts a portion of the sidewall of the glasscontainer formed from laminated glass;

FIG. 4A schematically depicts a cross section of the crack re-directionregion of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 4B schematically depicts a cross section of the crack re-directionregion of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 4C schematically depicts a cross section of the crack re-directionregion of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 5 schematically depicts a cross section of an alternative crackre-direction region of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 6A schematically depicts a glass container including a crackre-direction region, according to one or more embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 6B schematically depicts the glass container of FIG. 6A includinganother crack re-direction region, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 6C schematically depicts the glass container of FIG. 6A includinganother crack re-direction region, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 6D schematically depicts the glass container of FIG. 6A includinganother crack re-direction region, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 6E schematically depicts the glass container of FIG. 6A includinganother crack re-direction region, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 6F schematically depicts the glass container of FIG. 6A includinganother crack re-direction region, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 6G schematically depicts the glass container of FIG. 6A includinganother crack re-direction region, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 6H schematically depicts the glass container of FIG. 6A includinganother crack re-direction region, according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein;

FIG. 7 schematically depicts a glass container including a crackre-direction region, according to one or more embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 8A schematically depicts a glass container including a first crackre-direction region extending in a first direction, according to one ormore embodiments described herein;

FIG. 8B schematically depicts the glass container of FIG. 8A including asecond crack re-direction extending in a first spiral pattern, accordingto one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 8C schematically depicts the glass container of FIG. 8A including asecond crack re-direction extending in a second spiral pattern,according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 8D schematically depicts the glass container of FIG. 8A including asecond crack re-direction extending in a second direction that isperpendicular to the first direction, according to one or moreembodiments described herein;

FIG. 9 schematically depicts a converter for converting glass tubinginto a glass container, according to one or more embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 10 schematically depicts a processing station of the converterdepicted in FIG. 9, according to one or more embodiments describedherein;

FIG. 11 schematically depicts the localized compressive stress region ofthe glass container depicted in FIG. 1, according to one or moreembodiments described herein;

FIG. 12A graphically depicts a compressive stress in a localizedcompressive stress region as a function of starting temperature and heattransfer coefficient for a glass composition, according to one or moreembodiments described herein;

FIG. 12B graphically depicts a central tension proximate to a localizedcompressive stress region as a function of starting temperature and heattransfer coefficient for the glass composition of FIG. 12A, according toone or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 12C graphically depicts a transient tensile stress in a localizedcompressive stress region as a function of starting temperature and heattransfer coefficient for the glass composition of FIG. 12A, according toone or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 12D graphically depicts a compressive stress in a localizedcompressive stress region as a function of starting temperature andthickness for the glass composition of FIG. 12A, according to one ormore embodiments described herein;

FIG. 12E graphically depicts a tensile stress proximate to a localizedcompressive stress region as a function of starting temperature andthickness for the glass composition of FIG. 12A, according to one ormore embodiments described herein;

FIG. 13A schematically depicts a cooling apparatus for performinglocalized thermal strengthening treatments on a glass container,according to one or more embodiments described herein;

FIG. 13B schematically depicts a cooling apparatus for performinglocalized thermal strengthening treatments on a glass container,according to one or more embodiments described herein; and

FIG. 14 depicts a method for converting stock material of a glasscomposition into a glass container including at least one of a crackre-direction region and a localized compressive stress region, accordingto one or more embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of glass containershaving features that prevent cracks from originating in and propagatingthrough glass containers in a manner that can compromise the sterilityof the items (e.g., pharmaceuticals) disposed therein. For example, thefeatures of the glass containers described herein may prevent initialsurface flaws from forming or propagating through the glass container inan unnoticeable or unobservable manner so as to prevent the itemdisposed in the glass container from being unnoticeably compromised.Such surface flaws may be introduced to glass containers through contactwith other surfaces during formation, transport, filling, and handling.Cracks under an applied tension may propagate from a point oforigination. For example, a crack formed in a glass container having aresidual central tension may propagate in a direction dependent onstress fields within the glass container. If the glass container has ahigher circumferential stress than an axial stress, for example, a crackmay propagate in the axial direction rather than a circumferentialdirection. Such an axial crack, if propagating through a body of a glasscontainer having an adhesive label or other cover, may be concealed bythe adhesive label and may be generally less noticeable to a handler ofthe glass container. Various embodiments of the present disclosureintroduce central tension distributions into the glass container thatpromote the redirection of cracks that may originate in the glasscontainers to more noticeable and/or observable portions of the glasscontainers, or render the glass containers unusable as a result of thecrack redirection. For example, a glass container may include a crackre-direction region having a central tension in an axial direction thatis greater than a central tension in a circumferential direction topromote crack propagation in a desired region of the glass container(e.g., a portion of the glass container not typically concealed by anadhesive label) in a circumferential direction.

In embodiments, the glass containers described herein may also includelocalized compressive stress regions that render the glass containersmore durable within the localized compressive stress regions. Thelocalized compressive stress regions may be particularly positioned inregions of the glass container that frequently contact external elements(e.g., forming apparatuses, other glass containers during transport,capping devices, etc.). Beneficially, the localized compressive stressregions described herein have a depth of compression greater than thosefound in conventional glass containers. Such deeper depths ofcompression beneficially prevent surface flaws from reaching regions ofcentral tension that may be in a core region of the glass container, andtherefore prevent the surface flaws from propagating through the glasscontainer and compromising container integrity. In accordance with thepresent disclosure, such localized compressive stress regions may beformed through subjecting select regions of the glass container tolocalized thermal strengthening treatments. Such thermal strengtheningtreatments may have additional benefits, such as inducing a transienttensile stress in the glass container to aid in identify glasscontainers with relatively deep surface flaws resulting from theformation process of the glass containers. The localized thermaltempering may be used to identify and eliminate defective glasscontainers from a population of glass containers.

In embodiments, the glass containers described herein may include both acrack re-direction region and a localized compressive stress region toprovide synergistic effects. For example, embodiments may include acrack re-direction region of enhanced central tension that overlaps witha local compressive stress region at an outer surface of the glasscontainer to provide both improved damage resistance (e.g., resistanceto surface flaws from reaching a region of central tension within athickness of the glass container) and crack redirection in the region ofoverlap. In embodiments, the crack re-direction regions may bepositioned based on the localized compressive stress regions included inthe glass containers such that the crack re-direction regions re-directcracks originating at specific locations on the glass container disposedbetween the crack re-direction region and the localized compressivestress region.

In the embodiments of the glass containers described herein, theconcentration of constituent components (e.g., SiO₂, Al₂O₃, B₂O₃ and thelike) of the glass composition from which the glass containers areformed are specified in mole percent (mol. %) on an oxide basis, unlessotherwise specified.

The term “substantially free,” when used to describe the concentrationand/or absence of a particular constituent component in a glasscomposition, means that the constituent component is not intentionallyadded to the glass composition. However, the glass composition maycontain traces of the constituent component as a contaminant or tramp inamounts of less than 0.05 mol.

%.

The term “chemical durability,” as used herein, refers to the ability ofthe glass composition to resist degradation upon exposure to specifiedchemical conditions. Specifically, the chemical durability of the glasscompositions described herein was assessed according to 3 establishedmaterial testing standards: DIN 12116 dated March 2001 and entitled“Testing of glass—Resistance to attack by a boiling aqueous solution ofhydrochloric acid—Method of test and classification”; ISO 695:1991entitled “Glass—Resistance to attack by a boiling aqueous solution ofmixed alkali—Method of test and classification”; ISO 720:1985 entitled“Glass—Hydrolytic resistance of glass grains at 121 degrees C. —Methodof test and classification”; and ISO 719:1985 “Glass—Hydrolyticresistance of glass grains at 98 degrees C. —Method of test andclassification.” Each standard and the classifications within eachstandard are described in further detail herein. Alternatively, thechemical durability of a glass composition may be assessed according toUSP <660> entitled “Surface Glass Test,” and or European Pharmacopeia3.2.1 entitled “Glass Containers For Pharmaceutical Use” which assessthe durability of the surface of the glass.

The term “softening point,” as used herein, refers to the temperature atwhich the viscosity of the glass composition is 1×10^(7.6) poise.

The term “CTE,” as used herein, refers to the coefficient of thermalexpansion of the glass composition over a temperature range from aboutroom temperature (RT) to about 300° C.

As used herein, the term “about” means that amounts, sizes,formulations, parameters, and other quantities and characteristics arenot and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger orsmaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, roundingoff, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those ofskill in the art. When the term “about” is used in describing a value oran end-point of a range, the specific value or end-point referred to isincluded. Whether or not a numerical value or end-point of a range inthe specification recites “about,” two embodiments are described: onemodified by “about,” and one not modified by “about.” It will be furtherunderstood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant bothin relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the otherendpoint.

Directional terms as used herein—for example up, down, right, left,front, back, top, bottom—are made only with reference to the figures asdrawn and are not intended to imply ab solute orientation.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include pluralreferents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, forexample, reference to “a” component includes aspects having two or moresuch components, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a glass container 100 forstoring a pharmaceutical formulation is schematically depicted in crosssection. The glass container 100 generally comprises a body 102. Thebody 102 extends between an inner surface 104 and an outer surface 106,includes a central axis A, and generally encloses an interior volume108. In the embodiment of the glass container 100 shown in FIG. 1, thebody 102 generally comprises a wall portion 110 and a floor portion 112.The wall portion 110 transitions into the floor portion 112 through aheel portion 114. In the depicted embodiment, the glass container 100includes a flange 126, a neck region 124 extending from the flange 126,a barrel 118, and a shoulder region 116 extending between the neckregion 124 and the barrel 118. The floor portion 112 is coupled to thebarrel 118 via the heel portion 114. In embodiments, the glass container100 is symmetrical about a central axis A, with each of the barrel 118,neck region 124, and flange 126, being substantially cylindrical-shaped.The body 102 has a wall thickness T_(W) which extends between the innersurface 104 to the outer surface 106, as depicted in FIG. 1.

In embodiments, the glass container 100 may be formed from Type I, TypeII or Type III glass as defined in USP <660>, including borosilicateglass compositions such as Type 1B borosilicate glass compositions underUSP <660>. Alternatively, the glass container 100 may be formed fromalkali aluminosilicate glass compositions such as those disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 8,551,898, hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety, or alkaline earth aluminosilicate glasses such as thosedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,145,329, hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety. In embodiments, the glass container 100 may beconstructed from a soda lime glass composition.

While the glass container 100 is depicted in FIG. 1 as having a specificform-factor (i.e., a vial), it should be understood that the glasscontainer 100 may have other form factors, including, withoutlimitation, Vacutainers®, cartridges, syringes, ampoules, bottles,flasks, phials, tubes, beakers, or the like. Further, it should beunderstood that the glass containers described herein may be used for avariety of applications including, without limitation, as pharmaceuticalpackages, beverage containers, or the like.

The wall thickness T_(W) of the glass container 100 may vary dependingon the implementation. In embodiments, the wall thickness T_(W) of theglass container 100 may be from less than or equal to 6 millimeters(mm), such as less than or equal to 4 mm, less than or equal to 2 mm,less than or equal to 1.5 mm or less than or equal to 1 mm. In someembodiments, the wall thickness T_(w) may be greater than or equal to0.1 mm and less than or equal to 6 mm, greater than or equal to 0.3 mmand less than or equal to 4 mm, greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and lessthan or equal to 4 mm, greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than orequal to 2 mm, or greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equalto 1.5 mm. In embodiments, the wall thickness T_(W) may be greater thanor equal to 0.9 mm and less than or equal to 1.8 mm.

Various portions of the glass container 100 may be susceptible to theformation of surface flaws or cracks during the formation, transport,and use of the glass container 100. During formation, for example, aglass tube may be subjected to a conversion process where the glass tubeis shaped, cut, and strengthened to form the glass container 100. Theconversion process may include various processing stations where variousapparatuses (e.g., forming devices, piercing devices, etc.) may contactthe inner surface 104 and the outer surface 106 potentially initiatingflaws. In another example, in embodiments where the glass container 100is a pharmaceutical container, a metallic filling apparatus may contactthe neck region 124 (e.g., a rotating metal disk crimp) or heel region114 and initiate a surface flaw 120 at the outer surface 106. In anotherexample, during transport of the glass container 100, the outer surface106 at the barrel 118 may contact another glass container and initiate asurface flaw 122.

Various aspects of the glass container 100 may be designed to prevent orreduce the impact of flaws such as the surface flaws 120 and 122 on thefunctionality of the glass container 100. For example, referring to FIG.2, in embodiments, the body 102 includes a compressively stressed layer202 extending from at least the outer surface 106 of the body 102 intothe wall thickness T_(W) to a depth of compression DOC from the outersurface 106 of the body 102. The compressively stressed layer 202generally increases the strength of the glass container 100 and alsoimproves the damage tolerance of the glass container 100. Specifically,a glass container having a compressively stressed layer 202 is generallyable to withstand a greater degree of surface damage, such as scratches,chips, or the like, without failure compared to a non-strengthened glasscontainer as the compressively stressed layer 202 mitigates thepropagation of cracks from surface damage in the compressively stressedlayer 202.

Several different techniques may be utilized to form the compressivelystressed layer 202 in the body 102 of the glass container 100. Forexample, in embodiments where the body 102 is formed from ionexchangeable glass, the compressively stressed layer 202 may be formedin the body 102 by ion exchange. In these embodiments, the compressivelystressed layer 202 is formed by placing the glass container in a bath ofmolten salt to facilitate the exchange of relatively large ions in themolten salt for relatively smaller ions in the glass. Several differentexchange reactions may be utilized to achieve the compressively stressedlayer 202. In one embodiment, the bath may contain molten KNO₃ saltwhile the glass from which the glass container 100 is formed containslithium and/or sodium ions. In this embodiment, the potassium ions inthe bath are exchanged for the relatively smaller lithium and/or sodiumions in the glass, thereby forming the compressively stressed layer 202.In another embodiment, the bath may contain NaNO₃ salt and the glassfrom which the glass container 100 is formed contains lithium ions. Inthis embodiment, the sodium ions in the bath are exchanged for therelatively smaller lithium ions in the glass, thereby forming thecompressively stressed layer 202.

In one specific embodiment, the compressively stressed layer 202 may beformed by submerging the glass container in a molten salt bath of 100%KNO₃ or, in the alternative, a mixture of KNO₃ and NaNO₃. For example,in one embodiment the molten salt bath may include KNO₃ with up to about10% NaNO₃. In this embodiment, the glass from which the container isformed may include sodium ions and/or lithium ions. The temperature ofthe molten salt bath may be greater than or equal to 350° C. and lessthan or equal to 500° C. In some embodiments, the temperature of themolten salt bath may be greater than or equal to 400° C. and less thanor equal to 500° C. In still other embodiments, the temperature of themolten salt bath may be greater than or equal to 450° C. and less thanor equal to 475° C. The glass container may be held in the molten saltbath for a time period sufficient to facilitate the exchange of therelatively large ions in the salt bath with relatively smaller ions inthe glass and thereby achieve the desired surface compressive stress anddepth of layer. For example, the glass may be held in the molten saltbath for a period of time which is greater than or equal to 0.05 hoursto less than or equal to about 20 hours in order to achieve the desireddepth of layer and surface compressive stress. In some embodiments theglass container may be held in the molten salt bath for greater than orequal to 4 hours and less than or equal to about 12 hours. In otherembodiments, the glass container may be held in the molten salt bath forgreater than or equal to about 5 hours and less than or equal to about 8hours. In one embodiment, the glass container may be ion exchanged in amolten salt bath which comprises 100% KNO₃ at a temperature greater thanor equal to about 400° C. and less than or equal to about 500° C. for atime period greater than or equal to about 5 hours and less than orequal to about 8 hours.

Typically, the ion exchange process is performed at temperatures greaterthan 150° C. below the strain point (T_(strain)) of the glass in orderto minimize stress relaxation due to elevated temperatures. However, insome embodiments, the compressively stressed layer 202 is formed in amolten salt bath which is at temperature greater than the strain pointof the glass. This type of ion exchange strengthening is referred toherein as “high temperature ion-exchange strengthening.” In hightemperature ion-exchange strengthening, relatively smaller ions in theglass are exchanged with relatively larger ions from the molten saltbath, as described herein. As the relatively smaller ions are exchangedfor relatively larger ions at temperatures above the strain point, theresultant stress is released or “relaxed”. However, the replacement ofsmaller ions in the glass with larger ions creates a surface layer inthe glass which has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) thanthe remainder of the glass. As the glass cools, the CTE differentialbetween the surface of the glass and the remainder of the glass createsthe compressively stressed layer 202. This high temperature ion-exchangetechnique is particularly well suited to strengthening glass articles,such as glass containers, which have complex geometries and typicallyreduces the time of the strengthening process relative to typical ionexchange processes and also enables a greater depth of layer.

Referring to FIG. 3, in embodiments, the glass container 100 may beformed from laminated glass which facilitates the formation of acompressively stressed layer 202 in at least the outer surface 106 ofthe body 102. The laminated glass generally comprises a glass core layer204 and at least one glass cladding layer 206 a. In the embodiment ofthe glass container 100 depicted in FIG. 3, the laminated glass includesa pair of glass cladding layers 206 a, 206 b. In this embodiment, theglass core layer 204 generally comprises a first surface 205 a and asecond surface 205 b which is opposed to the first surface 205 a. Afirst glass cladding layer 206 a is fused to the first surface 205 a ofthe glass core layer 204 and a second glass cladding layer 206 b isfused to the second surface 205 b of the glass core layer 204. The glasscladding layers 206 a, 206 b are fused to the glass core layer 204without any additional materials, such as adhesives, coating layers orthe like, disposed between the glass core layer 204 and the glasscladding layers 206 a, 206 b.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the glass core layer 204 is formedfrom a first glass composition having an average core coefficient ofthermal expansion CTE_(core) and the glass cladding layers 206 a, 206 bare formed from a second, different glass composition which has anaverage coefficient of thermal expansion CTE_(clad). In the embodimentsdescribed herein, CTE_(core) is not equal to CTE_(clad) such that acompressive stress layer is present in at least one of the core layer orthe cladding layer. In some embodiments, CTE_(core) is greater thanCTE_(clad) which results in the glass cladding layers 206 a, 206 b beingcompressively stressed without being ion exchanged or thermallytempered. In such embodiments, one of the cladding layers 206 a, 206 bmay comprise the compressively stressed layer 202 depicted in FIG. 2. Insome other embodiments, such as when the laminate glass comprises asingle core layer and a single cladding layer, CTE_(clad) may be greaterthan CTE_(core) which results in the glass core layer beingcompressively stressed without being ion exchanged or thermallytempered. The laminated glass may be formed by a fusion laminationprocess such as the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,450,214, whichis incorporated herein by reference. When the laminated glass is used toform a container, these compressively stressed layers extend from theouter surface 106 of the glass container 100 into the wall thicknessT_(W) and from the inner surface 104 of the glass container into thewall thickness T_(W).

Referring to FIG. 2, the DOC to which the compressively stressed layer202 extends into the wall thickness T_(W) may depend on the methodologyused to form compressively stressed layer 202. Depending on theimplementation, the compressively stressed layer 202 may extend from theouter surface 106 of the body of the glass container into the wallthickness T_(W) to a DOC which is greater than or equal to about 1 μmand less than or equal to about 90% of the wall thickness T_(W). Inembodiments where the compressively stressed layer 202 is formed as asub-layer of laminated glass, the compressively stressed layer 202 mayextend from the outer surface 106 of the body 102 of the glass containerinto the wall thickness T_(W) to a DOC which is greater than or equal toabout 1 μm and less than or equal to about 33% of the wall thicknessT_(W). In embodiments where the compressively stressed layer 202 isformed by subjecting the glass container 100 to an ion exchange process,the compressively stressed layer 202 may extend from the outer surface106 of the body 102 of the glass container 100 into the wall thicknessT_(W) to a DOC which is greater than or equal to about 1 μm and lessthan or equal to about 10% of the wall thickness T_(W).

In embodiments, the compressively stressed layer 202 (e.g., both theouter clad layers 206 a, 206 b) may be under a compressive stress ofgreater than or equal to 50 megapascals (MPa), greater than or equal to75 MPa, greater than or equal to 100 MPa, or even greater than or equalto 150 MPa. For example, in embodiments, the compressively stressedlayer 202 may be under a compressive stress of greater than or equal to50 MPa and less than or equal to 700 MPa, greater than or equal to 50MPa and less than or equal to 500 MPa, greater than or equal to 50 MPAand less than or equal to 400 MPa, greater than or equal to 75 MPa andless than or equal to 750 MPa, greater than or equal to 75 MPa and lessthan or equal to 500 MPa, greater than or equal to 75 MPa and less thanor equal to 400 MPa, greater than or equal to 100 MPa and less than orequal to 700 MPa, greater than or equal to 100 MPa and less than orequal to 500 MPa, or even greater than or equal to 100 MPa and less thanor equal to 400 MPa.

In embodiments, the remainder of the glass container 100 outside of thecompressively stressed layer 202 (e.g., the core layer 204 describedwith respect to FIG. 3) are under a central tension that balances thecompressive stress of the compressively stressed layer 202. For example,in embodiments, as a result of the CTE mismatch between the outer cladlayers 206 a, 206 b, the core layer 204 may exhibit a central tension,or tensile stress greater than or equal to 10 MPa and less than or equalto 50 MPa, such as greater than or equal to 10 MPa and less than orequal to 40 MPa, greater than or equal to 10 MPa and less than or equalto 30 MPa, greater than or equal to 15 MPa and less than or equal to 50MPa, greater than or equal to 15 MPa and less than or equal to 40 MPa,or greater than or equal to 15 MPa and less than or equal to 30 MPa. Inembodiments (e.g., where the compressively stressed layer 202 is formedby subjecting the glass container 100 to ion exchange), the core layer204 may exhibit a central tension of between 10-15 MPa.

Referring back to FIG. 1, where a stored central tension in the glasscontainer 100 is above a threshold amount (e.g., 10 MPa), surface flaws120 and 122 in the glass container 100 that extend into the centraltension may form cracks that propagate from their points of origination.The direction of propagation of cracks originating from the surfaceflaws 120 and 122 may depend on the orientation of the residual stressfields within the glass container 100. For example, in an embodiment,the wall thickness T_(W) is substantially constant throughout the barrel118 (e.g., at approximately 1.5 mm), and a residual tensile stress in anaxial direction (e.g., parallel to the axis A) in the barrel 118 is lessthan a residual tensile stress in a circumferential direction (e.g.,extending perpendicular to the central axis A and to the outer surface106 within the barrel 118). In such a case, the surface flaw 122 maypropagate in a direction perpendicular to the direction having a higherresidual tensile stress. In this example, the surface flaw 122 maypropagate in the axial direction. The glass container 100 may possessthe requisite strength to maintain its overall structure (e.g., remainintact) even if the crack resulting from the surface flaw 122 extendsthrough the entire glass container 100 in the axial direction.

Under these circumstances, a user of the glass container 100 may notnotice such a crack propagating in the axial direction. Moreover, inuse, the glass container 100 may include any number of labels (e.g.,adhesive labels) disposed on the outer surface 106. Such adhesive labelsmay conceal cracks originating from surface flaws such as the surfaceflaws 120 and 122. Cracks propagating through the glass container 100may also branch into multiple cracks generally extending in a directionperpendicular to the direction of greatest residual tensile stress. Suchcracks may compromise the sterility of items contained within the glasscontainer 100. Given this, it is advantageous to prevent cracks frompropagating from the surface flaws 120 and 122. Moreover, in the eventthat such cracks do enter the region of the glass container 100 under atensile stress, it is beneficial to ensure that such cracks propagate ina noticeable manner so that defective glass containers 100 may bequickly identified and discarded.

In view of the foregoing, in embodiments, the glass container 100 isincludes a crack re-direction region 130 and a localized compressivestress region 140. The localized compressive stress region 140 is aregion of the glass container 100 under a compressive stress extendingfrom at least one of the outer surface 106 and the inner surface 104. Inthe depicted embodiment, the localized compressive stress region 140extends from the outer surface 106 into the wall thickness T_(W) by anamount that is greater than regions of compressive stress of the glasscontainer 100 that are adjacent to the compressive stress region 140.For example, in embodiments where the glass container includes thecompressively stressed layer 202 as described with respect to FIG. 2,the localized compressive stress region 140 may be under a compressivestress to a localized depth of compression DOC_(L) that is greater thanthe DOC of the compressively stressed layer. The deeper depth ofcompression of the compressive stress within the localized compressivestress region 140 beneficially prevents surface flaws from reaching theresidual tensile stress within the glass container 100 and propagatingwithin the glass container 100.

While the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 includes a single localizedcompressive stress region 140 in the heel region 114, it should beunderstood that embodiments including greater numbers of localizedcompressive stress regions and/or localized compressive stress regionsin alternative locations on the glass container 100 are envisioned(e.g., within the neck region 124, the barrel 118, the shoulder region116, or any other location on the glass container 100). In embodiments,the localized compressive stress region 140 is formed by applyinglocalized thermal strengthening treatments to the glass container 100involving heating the glass container to a specified temperature (e.g.,heating to a softening point for a glass composition from which theglass container 100 is formed) followed by a rapid cooling step where atleast one of the inner surface 104 and the outer surface 106 is cooledthrough application of a coolant thereto. Various methods of forming thelocalized compressive stress region 140 are described in greater detailherein.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the crack re-direction region 130 includes amodified residual stress field as compared to the remainder of the glasscontainer 100 (e.g., those portions of the glass container outside ofthe crack re-direction region 130). The stress field may be modifiedsuch that the residual tensile stress within the crack re-directionregion 130 is greater in a direction substantially perpendicular to adesired propagation direction for a crack. For example, in embodiments,it may be desired to redirect a crack that initially propagates in theaxial direction (e.g., substantially parallel to the axis A) towards thefloor portion 112 from the surface flaw 122 to instead propagate in acircumferential direction in a noticeable portion of the glass container100 (e.g., a region of the glass container 100 not covered by anadhesive label). In such embodiments, the crack re-direction region 130may have a residual tensile stress region having a higher tensile stressextending in the axial direction than in the circumferential directionin order to redirect the crack as desired.

The residual stress field within the crack re-direction region 130 maybe directionally modified as compared to the remainder of the glasscontainer 100 in a variety of different manners. In the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 1, for example, the crack re-direction region 130 is athin region where the wall thickness T_(W) is reduced. Such thicknessreduction may increase the central tension within the crack re-directionregion 130 when the glass container is strengthened. For example, thecompressively stressed layer 202 (e.g., formed through an ion exchangeprocess) may extend through a greater portion of the wall thicknessT_(W) than in other regions of the glass container 100, causing theregion of the glass container 100 outside of the compressively stressedlayer 202 to have a greater central tension to balance the compressivestress. The crack re-direction region 130 may include any number of suchthin regions arranged in any manner to create a desired directionalityin the residual tensile stress field within the crack re-directionregion 130.

The glass container 100 may include any number of crack re-directionregions having a variety of different structures. In embodiments, thecrack re-direction regions are positioned to redirect cracks throughportions of the glass container 100 that are typically not covered by anadhesive label or the like to increase the visibility of crackspropagating through the glass container 100 originating from relativelycommon points of origination. A variety of different crack re-directionregions and methods of forming the same are described in greater detailherein.

Still referring to FIG. 1, while the crack re-direction region 130 andthe localized compressive stress region 140 are shown to both extend onthe outer surface 106, it should be understood that, in alternativeembodiments, at least one of the crack re-direction region 130 and thelocalized compressive stress region 140 may be located on the innersurface 104. Moreover, certain embodiments may include multiple crackre-direction regions or localized compressive stress regions. Inembodiments, both the outer surface 106 and the inner surface 104including at least one localized compressive stress region and crackre-direction region.

In embodiments, the crack re-direction region 130 may overlap with thelocalized compressive stress region 140. Such an arrangement maybeneficially lessen the extent to which the glass container 100 ismodified to form a crack re-direction region 130 that redirects cracksin a desired manner. Within the localized compressive stress region 140,in addition to having a layer under compressive stress that extendsdeeper into the wall thickness T_(W), the glass container 100 may alsohave a region of greater central tension that overlaps the relativelydeep layer of compressive stress. For example, the embodiment depictedin FIG. 1 depicts a region of overlap 150 between the localizedcompressive stress region 140 and the crack re-direction region 130.That is, the region of overlap 150 contains both the crack re-directionregion 130 and the localized compressive stress region 140 (i.e., issubjected to the processes for forming both the crack re-directionregion 130 and the compressive stress region 140 described herein). Theincreased central tension proximate to the region of overlap 150resulting from the localized thermal strengthening treatments used toform the localized compressive stress region 140 may lessen the need to,for example, alter a thickness of glass container within the crackre-direction region 130 to achieve the desired modification in residualstress field. In other words, greater wall thicknesses T_(W) may bepossible within the region of overlap 150 to achieve the same crackre-direction effect, resulting in stronger glass articles than where thecrack re-direction region 130 does not overlap with the localizedcompressive stress region 140, while providing the same crackre-direction capability.

Referring now to FIG. 4A, a cross sectional view of an embodiment of thecrack re-direction region 130 at the line I-I in FIG. 1 is depicted.FIG. 4A depicts a circumferential portion of the glass container 100 atthe crack re-direction region 130. The crack re-direction region 130includes depression 400 such that the thickness of the glass container100 within the depression 400 is less than the wall thicknesses T_(W)throughout a remainder of the barrel 118. In embodiments, the glasscontainer 100 possess a minimum wall thickness T_(min) within thedepression 400. The minimum wall thickness T_(min) may be determinedbased on the overall size and composition of the glass container 100. Inembodiments, the crack re-direction region 130 includes a plurality ofdepressions 400 above and below (e.g., in the axial direction A, intothe page in FIG. 4A) the depression 400 to generate a stress field thatis increased in the axial direction over a circumferential direction toredirect a crack propagating through the glass container 100.

For example, FIGS. 4B and 4C depict cross-sectional views of anembodiment of the crack re-direction region 130 at the line II-II ofFIG. 1. As shown, the crack re-direction region 130 includes a pluralityof depressions 400 extending in the axial direction 402. The pluralityof depressions 400 are separated by peaks 404 such that the thickness ofthe glass container 100 varies in accordance with a sinusoid within thecrack re-direction region 130. Within the crack re-direction region 130,the glass container 100 has a minimum thickness T_(min) at the troughs406 within each depression 400 and a maximum thickness T_(max) at thepeaks between the depressions 400. In embodiments, T_(max) equals thewall thickness T_(W) of the remainder of the glass container 100. Inembodiments, T_(min) equals the wall thickness T_(W) of the remainder ofthe glass container 100. In embodiments, the average thickness of theglass container 100 within the crack re-direction region 130 equals thewall thickness T_(W) of the remainder of the glass container 100.

FIG. 4B depicts an axial stress profile (e.g., extending in the axialdirection) of the glass container 100 within the crack re-directionregion 130. FIG. 4C depicts a circumferential stress profile e (e.g.,extending in the circumferential direction) of the glass container 100within the crack re-direction region 130. As depicted in FIG. 4B, withinthe crack re-direction region 130, the axial stress profile includesareas of maximum axial stress at the troughs 406 (corresponding to localminimums in the thickness of the glass container 100, where thethickness equals T_(min) in example depicted). As depicted in FIG. 4C,within the crack re-direction region 130, the circumferential stressprofile includes areas of maximum circumferential stress at the peaks404 (corresponding to local maximums in the thickness of the glasscontainer 100) where the thickness equals T_(max) in the exampledepicted. In embodiments, unlike the remainder of the glass container100, which has a substantially consistent wall thickness T_(W), theaxial stress at the troughs 406 may be greater than the circumferentialstress at the peaks 404 within the crack re-direction region 130. Assuch, multiple points of maximum axial stress at each of the troughs 406supply tensile stress in the axial direction to re-direct crackspropagating through the crack re-direction region 130 in thecircumferential direction.

Various aspects of the crack re-direction region 130 may be varied inaccordance with the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C to varythe stress field for a particular crack re-direction effect. Forexample, varying the amplitude of the sinusoid (e.g., the differencebetween T_(max) and T_(min)) or a period P of the sinusoid may impact astress direction differential to alter propagation paths for crackspropagating from various origination points on the glass container 100(e.g., reducing the period P may increase the tensile stress in theaxial direction). It should be appreciated that the thickness variationswithin the crack re-direction region 130 may not vary as a sinusoid incertain embodiments, but rather include any distribution of thethickness variations having different minimum and maximum thicknesses.

Referring to FIG. 5, in embodiments, the crack re-direction region 130may also extend in the circumferential direction (e.g., extendingtangential to the inner surface 104) around a circumference of the glasscontainer 100 so that cracks originating from any circumferentialportion of the glass container 100 may be redirected via the crackre-direction region 130. As depicted in FIG. 5, the crack re-directionregion 130 includes a plurality of depressions 400 similar to thosedescribed herein with respect to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C extending as asinusoid in the circumferential direction. In embodiments, the crackre-direction region 130 extends around an entirety of the circumferenceof the glass container 100 in the circumferential direction. An axialcrack (e.g., extending in the axial direction or into or out of the pagein FIG. 5) encountering such a crack re-direction region 130 may beredirected to separate the glass container 100, rendering the glasscontainer 100 unusable for its intended purpose. In embodiments, ratherthan a single crack re-direction region 130 extending around an entiretyof the glass container 100, the glass container 100 may contain aplurality of discrete crack re-direction regions, with each crackre-direction region only extending around a portion of the glasscontainer 100.

Crack re-direction regions having different positions on glasscontainers and possessing different structures than the crackre-direction region 130 described herein are contemplated and possible.FIGS. 6A-6H, for example, depict cross-sectional views of a glasscontainer 600 having a neck region 602 and a plurality of differentcrack re-direction regions therein. For example, FIG. 6A depicts anembodiment of the glass container 600 including a crack re-directionregion 608 including a notch in the neck region 602. The glass container600 possesses a reduced thickness in the crack re-direction region 608to create a central tension differential in the axial direction toredirect axial cracks in a circumferential direction.

FIG. 6B depicts an embodiment of the glass container 600 including acrack re-direction region 610 including a plurality of grooves on bothan inner surface 606 and an outer surface 604 of the neck region 602.Including grooves on both the inner surface 606 and the outer surface604 may cause additional peaks in axial stress to increase theprobability of a crack propagating through the crack re-direction region610 being redirected in a circumferential direction. Including grooveson both the inner surface 606 and the outer surface 604 may also reducethe overall thickness of the glass container 600 within the crackre-direction region 610, which may increase the residual tensile stressdifferential in the axial and circumferential directions.

FIG. 6C depicts an embodiment of the glass container 600 including acrack re-direction region 612 including grooves in the inner surface 606and outer surface 604 at a transition region between the neck region 602and a shoulder region 614 of the glass container 600. Such poisoning ofthe grooves may position a segment of minimal thickness at the base ofthe neck region 602 such that the neck region 602 may separate from theremainder of the glass container 600 in the event of a crack propagatingthrough the neck region 602. FIG. 6D depicts an embodiment of the glasscontainer 600 including a crack re-direction region 616 includinggrooves in the inner surface 606 and outer surface 604 at a transitionregion between the neck region 602 and a flange 618. Such poisoning ofthe grooves may position a segment of minimal thickness at the base ofthe flange 618 such that the flange 618 may separate from the remainderof the glass container 600 in the event of a crack propagating throughthe neck region 602 or the flange 618.

FIG. 6E depicts an embodiment of the glass container 600 including acrack re-direction region 620 including rims protruding from both theinner surface 606 and the outer surface 604. Incorporation of such rumsmay concentrate stress during a process of ion exchange of the glasscontainer and thereby induce an axial differential in tensile stress.Such an implementation may be beneficial in that it may preservestructural strength of the neck region 602 by not requiring a region ofdiminished thickness. FIG. 6F depicts an embodiment of the glasscontainer 600 including a crack re-direction region 622 includinggradual concavities on both the inner surface 606 and the outer surface604 of the neck region 602.

FIG. 6G depicts an embodiment of the glass container 600 including acrack re-direction region 624 including a concavity on the outer surface604 within the shoulder region 614. Such positioning of the crackre-direction region 624 may cause separation of the glass container 600at the shoulder region 614 in the event of a crack axially propagatingthrough a barrel portion 626 of the glass container. FIG. 6H depicts anembodiment of the glass container 600 including a crack re-directionregion 628 including an opening in the neck region 602. The openingcreates two regions of minimal thickness (e.g., a first between theinner surface 606 and the opening and a second between the outer surface604 and the opening) within the crack re-direction region 628 to createmultiple axial peaks in residual tensile stress therein. In embodiments,the opening may include a material having a lower CTE than the glasscomposition in contact with the opening to further enhance tensilestress.

It should be appreciated that any of the crack re-direction regionsdescribed with respect to FIGS. 6G-6H may include features on either theinner surface 606, the outer surface 604, or both the inner surface 606and the outer surface 604. Moreover, any of the crack re-directionregions described with respect to FIGS. 6G-6H may be positioned at anylocation on the glass container 600 (e.g., in the barrel portion 626, ata heel portion, etc.).

In embodiments, the crack re-direction regions described herein may notinclude variations in glass container thickness, but include otherfeatures that alter the residual stress fields in a glass container. Forexample, in embodiments, a crack re-direction region may be formedthrough surface blocking of ions (e.g., potassium ions) during ionexchange strengthening to create variations in residual tensile stressin the axial direction to induce crack re-direction. In another example,density variations within glass containers may be used to form crackre-direction regions. Areas of reduced density within the glasscontainer may result in an increased depth of compressive layersresulting from ion exchange strengthening to create areas of increasedtensile stress. In embodiments, crack re-direction regions may be formedby subjecting selected regions of glass containers to differentialannealing or cooling. For example, in certain embodiments, the crackre-direction may be formed by shielding a region of the glass containerduring annealing heat treatments (e.g., after initial formation of theglass container), by contacting a desired region of the glass containerwith a cooling tool during the conversion of a stock material (e.g.,tubing) into the glass container, or during a post heating/coolingprocess after bulk annealing of the glass container. Any techniquecapable of forming a directional residual tensile stress in a desiredregion of the glass container may be used to form a crack re-directionregion described herein. In embodiments, the crack re-direction regionmay be formed by localized modification of fictive temperature throughflame or laser processing. In embodiments, energy from an energy source(e.g., a flame, laser, or the like) may be incident on a desiredlocation for the crack re-direction region for localized heating.Subsequent cooling of the desired location may result in localizeddensity variations in the glass container, resulting in different stressprofiles for the glass container at the crack re-direction region. Suchstress profile differences between the crack-redirection regions andother areas of the glass container may be increased through subsequentchemical strengthening (e.g., via ion exchange) to provide a desiredcrack re-direction effect.

The preceding discussion of the crack re-direction regions describedherein have primarily described localized features in a glass containerused to create higher regions of residual tensile stress extending in anaxial direction of the glass container. Such localized features mayextend in any direction to have any desired crack re-direction effect.

For example, FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of a glass container 700including a crack 702 propagating in an axial direction through theglass container 700. The glass container 700 includes a crackre-direction region 704 that general extends in a circumferentialdirection around a neck region 706 of the glass container 700. The crackre-direction region 704 may include any of the features (e.g.,depressions, grooves, areas of reduced density). In the depictedembodiment, however, the crack re-direction region 704 does not extenddirectly in the circumferential direction, but rather along a zig-zagpath. For example, the crack re-direction region 704 may include aplurality of grooves arranged in a zig-zag pattern (e.g., such that thethickness of the glass container 700 varies in accordance with asinusoid along the zig-zag pattern). Such a pattern is beneficial inthat the crack 702 extending in the axial direction does not intersectthe features of the crack re-direction at a 90 degree angle. As such,the angular amount that the crack 702 needs to be turned to extend alongthe crack re-direction region 704 is less than in embodiments where thecrack re-direction region extends in a straight line along thecircumferential direction. Such a reduction in the amount of turningrequired may better promote crack turning.

FIGS. 8A-8D depict embodiments of a glass container 800 including afirst crack re-direction feature 802. The first crack re-directionfeature 802 may include a plurality of features (e.g., depressions) thatextends circumferentially around a neck region of the glass container800 to redirect axial cracks in a circumferential direction, asdescribed herein. In embodiments, additional crack re-direction featuresmay be added to the crack re-direction region 802 to redirect cracksextending in various different directions.

For example, FIG. 8B depicts an embodiment of the glass container 800that includes a crack re-direction region 804 extending in a firstspiral pattern. In embodiments, the crack re-direction region 804includes a plurality of features (e.g., grooves, depressions,concavities) extending along the crack re-direction region 804. Thefirst spiral pattern may be relatively tight such that the crackre-direction region 804 extends around an entirety of the circumferenceof the glass container at least once between the floor portion 810 ofthe glass container and the crack re-direction region 802. Such apattern facilitates cracks originating at any axial position within theglass container 800 encountering the crack re-direction region 804 at anangle of less than 90 degrees, which promotes re-direction of the cracksin a noticeable manner so that that the glass container 800 may bediscarded if defective.

FIG. 8C depicts an embodiment of the glass container 800 that includes acrack re-direction region 806 extending in a second spiral pattern. Ascompared to the first spiral pattern described with respect to FIG. 8B,the second spiral pattern extends at a smaller angle relative to theaxial direction, and generally promotes redirection of crackspropagating in the axial direction. FIG. 8D depicts an embodiment of theglass container 800 that includes a crack re-direction region 808extending in the axial direction to promote redirection of crackspropagating in a circumferential direction around the glass container inan axial direction. The crack re-direction region 808 may expose cracksthat are hidden by an adhesive label disposed on an outer surface of theglass container 800.

In embodiments, the crack re-direction regions described herein may beformed during a process of converting a stock material (e.g., glasstubing) into a glass container. Such a conversion process is describedin greater detail herein with respect to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 depicts aconverter 900 that may be used for generating glass articles, such asthe glass container 100 described herein with respect to FIG. 1 fromglass tubing. It should be appreciated that the converter 900 depictedis exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. The glass containersdescribed herein may be formed through any type of conversion process.The converter 900 includes a base 902 having a plurality of processingstations 904, a main turret 906 positioned above the base 902 androtatable relative to the base 902 about the central axis A, and a glasstube loading turret 908 positioned above the main turret 906 for feedingglass tubing 910 to the main turret 906. The converter 900 may alsoinclude a plurality of secondary processing stations 912 on the base 902and a secondary turret 914, which is rotatable relative to the base 902.

The plurality of processing stations 904 are spaced apart from oneanother and arranged in a main circuit 916. In one or more embodiments,the main circuit 916 may be circular so that the main turret 906 mayindex the glass tubing 910 through the plurality of processing stations904 by rotation of the main turret 906 about the central axis A.Alternatively, in other embodiments, the main circuit 916 may be linear.Although described herein in reference to a circular-shaped layout ofprocessing stations 904, it is understood that the subject matterdisclosed herein may apply equally well to converters having otherarrangements of the processing stations 904. The plurality of processingstations 904 may include any number of processing stations depending onthe implementation. The processing stations 904 may include, by way ofexample and without limitation, one or more heating, forming, polishing,cooling, separating, piercing, re-cladding, trimming, measuring,feeding, or discharge stations or other processing stations forproducing the glass articles from the glass tubing 910. The type and/orshape of the article to be made from the glass tubing 910 may alsoinfluence the type of processing stations 904 and/or order of processingstations 904 of the converter 900.

The main turret 906 includes a plurality of holders 918, which areconfigured to removably secure each glass tubing 910 to the main turret906. The holders 918 may be clamps, chucks, or other holding devices, orcombinations of holding devices. The holders 918 may orient each pieceof glass tubing 910 so that the glass tubing 910 is generally parallelto the central axis A of the main turret 906. The glass tube loadingturret 908 may include a plurality of loading channels 920 arranged in acircular circuit and configured to hold lengths of the glass tubing 910The glass tube loading turret 908 may be positioned to orient one of theloading channels 920 into vertical alignment (i.e., aligned in adirection parallel to the central axis A of the main turret 906 and/orparallel to the Z axis of FIG. 9) with a processing station 904 of themain circuit 916 of the converter 900 and the corresponding holders 918on the main turret 906 that are indexed through the processing station904 of the main circuit 916.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a processing station 1000 is schematicallydepicted. In embodiments the processing station 1000 is one of theprocessing stations 904 of the converter 900 described herein withrespect to FIG. 9. For example, in embodiments, the processing station1000 may be positioned within the main circuit 916 after a first one ofprocessing stations 904 that is a heating station and a second one ofthe processing stations 904 that is a forming station. As depicted inFIG. 10, a partially formed glass container 1002 is secured to a holder1004 (e.g., corresponding to one of the holders 918 described hereinwith respect to FIG. 9). In embodiments, the first one of processingstations 904 that is a heating station may initially preheat glasstubing to a target temperature (e.g., a softening point or workingpoint) at which the glass tubing becomes plastically deformable and maybe effectively shaped without cracking or shattering the glass. Afterthe glass tubing is preheated, the second one of the processing stations904 that is a forming station (or a plurality of forming stations inaddition to a separating station) may form the glass tubing into thepartially formed glass container 1002.

After the glass tubing is formed into the partially formed glasscontainer 1002, the partially formed glass container 1002 may besubjected to an additional processing station 904 to reheat thecontainer. In embodiments, after the glass tubing is formed into thepartially formed glass container 1002, the partially formed glasscontainer 1002 may be transferred to the processing station 1000 to forma crack re-direction region.

As depicted in FIG. 10, the processing station 1000 includes a firstlaser beam source 1006 emitting a first laser beam 1008 and a secondlaser beam source 1010 emitting a second laser beam 1012. The processingstation 1000 may beneficially be positioned within the converter 900such that, when the partially formed glass container 1002 reaches theprocessing station 1000, the partially formed glass container 1002 is atan elevated temperature (e.g., above a softening point of the glasscomposition of which the partially formed glass container 1002 isconstructed). Such an elevated temperature facilitates use of relativelylower power laser beam sources for the first and second laser beamsources 1006 and 1010. In embodiments, the first and second laser beamsources 1006 and 1010 are CO₂ laser sources emitting pulsed laser beams1008 and 1012. The pulsed laser beams 1008 and 1012 may have variousdifferent pulse lengths and spot sizes, depending on the properties ofthe crack re-direction region desired to be formed. For example, thepulse length and/or power of the first and second laser beam sources1006 and 1010 may be adjusted based on a desired minimum thickness ofthe glass container within the crack re-direction region (e.g., thevalue of T_(min) described with respect to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C). A spotsize of the pulsed laser beams 1008 and 1012 may be adjusted (e.g.,using optics—not depicted—positioned between the laser beam sources 1006and 1012) based on a desired size of thickness variation within thecrack re-direction region (e.g., the period P described with respect toFIG. 4C).

The second laser beam 1012 is directed to an outer surface 1014 of thepartially formed glass container 1002. As such, the second laser beamsource 1010 may be used to form depressions (e.g., the depressions 400described herein with respect to FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C) on the outersurface 1014. In embodiments, the partially formed glass container 1002and the second laser beam 1012 may be moved relative to one another(e.g., via a scanning element, not depicted, positioned between thesecond laser beam source 1010 and the partially formed glass container1002) to form a desired pattern of depressions on the outer surface1014. In embodiments, the holder 1004 rotates while the partially formedglass container 1002 is in the processing station 1000 such that anypattern of depressions may be formed around an entirety of thecircumference of the partially formed glass container 1002. Inembodiments, the relative positioning between the partially formed glasscontainer 1002 and the second laser beam 1012 may be adjusted in theaxial direction (e.g., via the scanning element, via the holder 1004translating in the axial direction) to form crack re-direction featuresat any axial location on the outer surface 1014. Depressions may beformed in an inner surface 1016 of the partially formed glass container1002 via the first laser beam 1008 in a similar manner.

Still referring to FIG. 10, it should be appreciated that the processingstation 1000 may include any number of laser beam sources depending onthe implementation. For example, in embodiments, the processing station1000 may include a plurality of laser beam sources positioned at variousaxial locations of the partially formed glass container 1002 forsimultaneously forming multiple crack re-direction regions on the outersurface 1014 and the inner surface 1016. In embodiments, a single laserbeam source may be used to form crack re-direction regions on both theinner surface 1016 and the outer surface 1014.

Alternative processing stations for forming the crack re-directionregions described herein during a conversion process are alsoenvisioned. For example, one processing station may include a shaping orforming element that mechanically contacts a surface (e.g., the outersurface 1014 and the inner surface 1016) of the partially formed glasscontainer 1002 while the partially formed glass container 1002 is at anelevated temperature. The forming element may have a surface including afirst portion that conforms with a surface (e.g., the outer surface1014) of the partially formed glass container 1002 and a second portionshaped to correspond to a desired profile (e.g., depression, rim) of afeature of the crack re-direction region. The forming element may bepressed into the partially formed glass container 1002 at variouslocations to form the crack re-direction regions described herein.Another alternative processing station may include a localized heatsource (e.g., a laser beam, a flame) to locally modify a fictivetemperature in a region of partially formed glass container 1002 to forma crack re-direction region.

While the preceding examples describe forming the crack re-directionregions herein during a conversion process for converting glass tubinginto glass containers, it should be understood that the crackre-direction features described herein may be formed at different times.For example, any of the crack re-direction features may also be formedafter the conversion process during a step where a finished glasscontainer is heated.

Referring now to FIG. 11A, the region 1100 of the glass container 100described with respect to FIG. 1 is schematically depicted according toan example embodiment. The region 1100 includes the localizedcompressive stress region 140. In the depicted embodiment, the glasscontainer 100 includes a compressively stressed layer 1104 extendingthroughout the region 1100. In embodiments, the compressively stressedlayer 1104 may be formed in any of the manners described herein withrespect to the compressively stressed layer 202 depicted in FIG. 2. Inembodiments, the glass container 100 may not include the compressivelystressed layer 1104. For example, in embodiments where the glasscontainer is relatively large (e.g., defining an internal volume ofgreater than or equal to 20 ml and less than or equal to 50 ml), theglass container 100 may not be chemically strengthened via ion exchangeand not include the compressively stressed layer 1104, provided thatlocalized compressive stress regions are located at commonly contactedregions of the glass container (e.g., the heel region 114, the neckregion 124, the shoulder region 116). That is, the localized compressivestress regions described herein may eliminate the need to ion exchangecertain glass containers and reduce processing costs.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 11A, the compressively stressed layer1104 extends from the outer surface 106 into the wall thickness of theglass container 100 to a first depth of compression DOC₁. Inembodiments, the glass container 100 is under a maximum compressivestress CS_(max) at the outer surface 106. The value of the maximumcompressive stress CS_(max) may vary depending on the manner with whichthe compressively stressed layer 1104 is formed and the composition ofthe glass container 100. For example, in embodiments, the maximumcompressive stress CS_(max) may range from 50 MPa to 750 MPa (e.g., 750MPa, 700 MPa, 500 MPa, 400 MPa, 300 MPa, 200 MPa, 100 MPa, 50 MPa, orany of the values in between).

At the line A depicted in FIG. 11A, the residual stress profile of theglass container 100 turns tensile at the first depth of compressionDOC₁. That is, the compressively stressed layer 1104 extends from theouter surface 106 into the wall thickness T_(W) to the first depth ofcompression DOC₁. The first depth of compression DOC₁ may vary dependingon the implementation. In embodiments where the compressively stressedlayer 1104 is formed by ion exchange, for example, the first depth ofcompression DOC₁ may be greater than or equal to about 3 μm. In someembodiments, the depth of layer may be greater than or equal to about 25μm or even greater than or equal to about 30 μm. For example, in someembodiments, the first depth of compression DOC₁ may be greater than orequal to about 10 μm and greater than or equal to about 200 μm. In someother embodiments, the first depth of compression DOC₁ may be greaterthan or equal to about 30 μm and less than or equal to about 150 μm. Inyet other embodiments, the first depth of compression DOC₁ may begreater than or equal to about 30 μm and less than or equal to about 80μm. In some other embodiments, the first depth of compression DOC₁ maybe greater than or equal to about 35 μm and less than or equal to about50 μm. In embodiments, the compressively stressed layer 1104 may beformed in a cladding layer of laminated glass. In such embodiments, thecladding layer may also be subjected to ion exchange strengthening tocreate a superimposed compressive stress profile within thecompressively stressed layer 1104.

In embodiments, the first depth of compression DOC₁ may extend less thanor equal to or equal to 25% into the wall thickness T_(w) of glasscontainer 100 from the outer surface 106. In embodiments, the firstdepth of compression DOC₁ may be less than or equal to 2% of the wallthickness T_(W), less than or equal to 3% of the wall thickness T_(W),less than or equal to 5% of the wall thickness T_(W), less than or equalto 10% of the wall thickness T_(W), less than or equal to 15% of thewall thickness T_(W), less than or equal to 20% of the wall thicknessT_(W), less than or equal to 25% of the wall thickness T_(W), or any ofthe values therebetween.

As depicted in FIG. 11A, within the localized compressive stress region140, the glass container 100 is under a compressive stress to a seconddepth of compression DOC₂ that is greater than the first depth ofcompression DOC₁ of the compressively stressed layer 1104. As such,within the localized compressive stress region 140, residual compressivestress extends deeper into the wall thickness T_(W) than in regions ofthe glass container 100 outside of (or adjacent to) the localizedcompressive stress region 140. Given that surface flaws imparted on theouter surface 106 may branch and propagate under tensile stress, such agreater depth of compressive stress within the localized compressivestress region 140 may increase the breakage resistance of the glasscontainer 100. That is, the greater depth of compressive stress withinthe localized compressive stress region 140 effectively increases thethreshold amount of damage needed to cause failure of the glasscontainer 100. As such, since the localized compressive stress region140 is positioned proximate to the heel region 114 of the glasscontainer 100 (see FIG. 1), the glass container 100 is effectivelyrendered more durable against contact with external items (e.g.,holders, other glass containers, etc.) within the heel region 114.

In embodiments, the localized compressive stress region 140 is formed byapplying localized thermal strengthening treatments to a portion of theglass container 100. For example, the glass container 100 may be heatedto a target temperature (e.g., to a softening point) and then rapidlycooled in a controlled manner (e.g., exposing the outer surface 106 tocoolant such as a gas or liquid). Such rapid cooling causes the surfacelayer of the glass container 100 exposed to the coolant to harden, withthe interior of the glass container 100 being in a softer state. Thecooled surface layer forms a rigid structure preventing the interior ofthe glass container 100 from contracting when cooled, causing a regionof tension that counteracts the compressive state of the surface layerexposed to the coolant. Such localized thermal strengthening treatmentsmay result in a depth of compressive stress that is greater than can beattained through chemical strengthening techniques like ion exchange.

In embodiments, the stress profile of the compressive stress within thelocalized compressive stress region may differ from stress profile ofthe compressive stress that is external to the localized compressivestress region 140 as a result of the localized thermal strengtheningtreatments applied to the localized compressive stress region 140. Inembodiments, the compressive stress within the localized compressivestress region 140 is substantially parabolic in shape and is compressiveat a distance of approximately 20% of the wall thickness T_(W). Inembodiments, the second depth of compression DOC₂ is greater than thefirst depth of compression DOC₁ outside of the localized compressivestress region 140. In the example depicted, the compressively stressedlayer 1104 overlaps (or extends through) the localized compressivestress region 140. Such a structure may result from a process where theglass container 100 is subjected to localized thermal strengtheningtreatments (e.g., in a cooling processing station of the converter 900described with respect to FIG. 9) to form the localized compressivestress region 140, followed by chemical strengthening by ion exchange.As a result, the outer surface 106 at the localized compressive stressregion 140 may be exposed to thermal strengthening treatments and ionexchange In embodiments, exposure to both ion exchange and thermalstrengthening treatments may result in a maximum compressive stress atthe outer surface 106 that is greater within the localized compressivestress region 140 than external to the localized compressive stressregion 140.

While the preceding example includes a compressively stressed layer 1104and a localized compressive stress region 140, it should be appreciatedthat various alternative embodiments are envisioned. For example,certain embodiments may not include the compressively stressed layer1104 extending throughout the glass container 100. The localizedcompressive stress region 140 may be also be formed through localizedchemical strengthening such that the second depth of compression DOC₂may be less than depicted in FIG. 11B in certain embodiments. Forexample, in embodiments where a local ion exchange treatment is used toform the localized compressive stress region 140, the second depth ofcompression DOC₂ may be less than 3% (e.g., 1%, 2%, 2.5%) of the wallthickness T_(W). The second depth of compression DOC₂ depends on themethod used to form the localized compressive stress region 140 and mayvary from being greater than or equal to 2% of the wall thickness T_(W)to less than or equal to 25% of the wall thickness T_(W), depending onthe implementation.

Additionally, it should be appreciated that the glass containersdescribed herein may include a number of different localized compressivestress regions at various different positions. Certain embodiments ofthe glass container 100 may include localized compressive stress regionson the inner surface 104. Additionally, the crack re-direction regionsdescribed herein may overlap with the localized compressive stressregions. Such a structure is beneficial in that the localized thermalstrengthening treatments used to form the localized compressive stressregions may work in concert with the structural variations of the crackre-direction regions to create tensile stress differentials indirections perpendicular to desired propagation directions. Such tensilestress differentials as a result of the overlapping crack re-directionregions and localized compressive stress regions may reduce the amountthe structure (e.g., thickness) is modified within the crackre-direction region and preserve structural strength of the glasscontainer 100 while providing a similar crack re-direction effect.

As described herein, the localized compressive stress regions describedherein may be formed through localized application of thermalstrengthening treatments to the glass container 100. Such treatments arenot conventionally applied to glass containers because uniform coolingof complex glass shapes is generally challenging. Thermal strengtheningtreatments may rely on application of gas coolants to a heated glasssurface to uniformly cool the glass and achieve. Referring to FIG. 1,the glass container 100 includes shape complexities (e.g., the flange126, the shoulder region 116, the heel region 114) that renderapplication of such coolants thereto difficult. As such, it is difficultto achieve the required heat transfer rates when thermally strengtheningthe entire glass container 100. Additionally, thermal strengtheningtreatments may be more effective in glass compositions having highercoefficients of thermal expansion (CTE). Conventional glass containersmay be constructed of compositions (e.g., alkali borosilicate glasses)that are incompatible with thermal strengthening techniques. Certainglass containers may also have a wall thickness T_(W) that is greaterthan or equal to 0.6 mm and less than or equal to 3 mm. Conventionalthermal strengthening techniques are also not compatible with suchthicknesses due to a lowered heat transfer rate.

In view of this, the glass containers described herein may beconstructed of a glass composition that is more amenable to thermalstrengthening treatments than compositions of conventional glasscontainers. In embodiments, the glass containers described herein areconstructed of glass compositions having CTEs greater than or equal to5×10⁻⁶° C.⁻¹. With regard to providing the requisite heat transfer ratesto achieve the desired depth of compression within the localizedcompressive stress regions described herein, the present disclosureutilizes several approaches. First, by performing thermal strengtheningtreatments at only specific regions on the glass container 100, problemsstemming from geometrical complexities of the glass container 100 may beavoided. Additionally, coolants may be applied to the glass container toincrease heat transfer rates.

FIGS. 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D graphically depict various aspectsimpacting the efficacy of thermal strengthening on the glass containersdescribed herein. FIG. 12A graphically depicts a surface compressivestress (e.g., at the outer surface 106) versus a starting temperaturethat the glass container is heated to during thermal strengthening. Eachcurve depicts a transfer coefficient (cal/(cm²*sec*K)) during cooling ofthe glass. In the depicted embodiment, the glass container 100 isconstructed of an alkali aluminosilicate glass composition thatgenerally includes a combination of SiO₂ and one or more alkali oxides,such as Na₂O and/or K₂O. The glass composition may also include Al₂O₃and at least one alkaline earth oxide. The glass container 100 has a 1.1mm wall thickness T_(W) in the shown example. The glass container 100was not strengthened with ion exchange in the depicted example.

As depicted in FIG. 12A, the higher the heat transfer coefficient andstarting temperature, the greater level of compressive stress at theouter surface 106 within the localized compressive stress region 140. Aheat transfer coefficient of 0.2 cal/(cm²*sec*K) provides a compressivestress of about 225 MPa at the outer surface 106. A heat transfercoefficient of 0.001 cal/(cm²*sec*K), in contrast, provides acompressive stress of about 30 MPa at the outer surface. In embodiments,to achieve a desired amount of damage resistance within the localizedcompressive stress region 140, the compressive stress at the outersurface 106 (e.g., CS_(max) described with respect to FIG. 11B) may begreater than or equal to 50 MPa (e.g., greater than or equal 75 MPa,greater than or equal to 100 MPa, greater than or equal to 125 MPa,greater than or equal to 150 MPa, or greater than or equal to 200 MPa).As such, for the alkali aluminosilicate composition depicted, a startingtemperature of greater than or equal to approximately 750° C. may beused. Additionally, a heat transfer coefficient of greater than or equal0.01 cal/(cm²*sec*K) for cooling the glass container after heated to thestarting temperature of at least approximately 750° C. may be used.

FIG. 12B graphically depicts various curves of a central tension (e.g.,in the adjacent region 1110 described with respect to FIG. 11A)resulting in the glass container 100 from the thermal strengtheningtreatments describe with respect to FIG. 12A. As depicted, thermaltempering to achieve the desired amount of compressive stress at theouter surface 106 also provides a central tension of greater than orequal to approximately 30 MPa. Such a central tension may facilitatecrack branching and propagation if a surface flaw manages to penetratethe localized compressive stress region 140. FIG. 12C graphicallydepicts various curves of maximum surface tensile stress that occursduring the thermal strengthening treatments described with respect toFIG. 12A. That is, the thermal strengthening treatments described hereinresult in a transient tensile stress at the outer surface 106. Such atransient tensile stress may separate surface flaws imparted on theglass container during the conversion process, eliminating faultycontainers. As depicted, thermal tempering to achieve the desired amountof compressive stress at the outer surface 106 also results in a surfacetensile stress of greater than or equal to about 40 MPa, which issufficient to render the glass container 100 unsuitable for use in theevent of a surface flaw being imparted thereon during conversion.

FIG. 12D depicts the compressive stress at the outer surface 106 withinthe localized compressive stress region 140 for glass containers 100having various thicknesses, assuming a heat transfer rate of 0.06cal/(cm²*sec*K). As depicted, a thicker glass container 100 generallyresults in a higher compressive stress at the outer surface 106. FIG.12E depicts the central tension within the localized compressive stressregion 140 for glass containers having the thicknesses described in FIG.12D. As depicted, the greater the thickness, the larger the centraltension (e.g., in the adjacent region 1110 described with respect toFIG. 11A).

In order to achieve a desired amount and depth of compressive stresswithin the glass container 100 within the localized compressive stressregion 140, various coolants may be applied to the glass container 100at the localized compressive stress region 140. In embodiments, helium,air, engine oil, and evaporated steam possess relatively high heattransfer coefficients, rendering them well suited for potential use inthe thermal strengthening treatments described herein. In embodiments,the coolant may delivered to the localized compressive stress region 140at a particular temperature via tooling specifically designed for theregion on the glass container 100 in which the localized compressivestress region 140 is placed.

FIGS. 14A and 14B schematically depict a cooling apparatus 1400 forperforming the localized thermal strengthening treatments describedherein. In embodiments, the cooling apparatus 1400 may be integratedinto a processing station of a converter (e.g., the converter 900described herein with respect to FIG. 9) in order to thermallystrengthen the glass container 100 during the process of convertingglass tubing into the glass container 100. As described herein, theconverter 900 may include heating stations that heat glass tubing totemperatures suitable for forming (e.g., temperatures greater than orequal to 870° C.). Such temperatures are greater than the startingtemperatures (e.g., greater than or equal to 750° C.) to achieve desiredlevels of compressive stress within alkali aluminosilicate glasscontainers. As such, positioning the cooling apparatus 1400 within theconverter 900 may result in efficiencies, as the glass composition isalready heated to the requisite starting temperature, though it shouldbe appreciated that the cooling apparatus 1400 may be separate from theconverter 900 and be used after a subsequent heating step of acompletely converted glass container 100.

In the depicted embodiment, the cooling apparatus 1400 is designed toapply coolant to specifically cool a neck region 1404 of a glasscontainer 1402. The cooling apparatus 1400 includes a coolant manifold1408 that is sized so as to contact an outer surface 1410 of the neckregion 1404. The coolant manifold 1408 extends from a body 1412. Thecoolant manifold 1408 may have a size (e.g., in an axial direction ofthe glass container 1402 and a circumferential direction) thatcorresponds to a desired size for a localized compressive stress regionto be placed on the glass container 1402.

As depicted in FIG. 14B, the body 1412 includes a first portion 1414 anda second portion 1416. In FIG. 14B, the first portion 1414 and thesecond portion 1416 are separated from one another (e.g., within aprocessing station on the converter 900) to provide clearance forinsertion of the glass container 1402 (or a glass tubing or partiallyformed glass container) therebetween. The first portion 1414 and thesecond portion 1416 may each be coupled to an actuator that facilitatestranslation along an axis 1418 extending perpendicular to an axis of theglass container 1402. For example, once the glass container 1402 isplaced in a desired axial position (such that the cooling apparatus 1400axially overlaps with a region of the glass container 1402 where it isdesired to incorporate a localized compressive stress region), the firstand second portions 1414 and 1416 may be translated towards one anotheruntil inner surfaces 1420 and 1422 of the cooling apparatus 1400 areseparated from the outer surface 1410 by a desired minimum separationdistance. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 14B, the cooling apparatus1400 may surround the glass container 1402 so as to impart a localizedcompressive stress region that extends around an entirety of the glasscontainer 1402 within the neck region 1404.

In embodiments, as depicted in FIG. 14A, the cooling apparatus includescontact points 1424 and 1426 that control a precision of the minimumseparation distance between the cooling apparatus 1400 and the outersurface 1410. In embodiments, the contact points 1424 and 1426 maycomprise points of pressurized gas (e.g., of coolant originating fromthe coolant feed 1430, of other gas). In embodiments, the contact points1424 and 1426 may comprise wheels or other rotatable members tofacilitate positioning of the cooling apparatus 1400 on the glasscontainer 1402. In embodiments, the contact points 1424 and 1426 mayinclude rims extending from the coolant manifold 1408 (e.g., constructedof the same material as the body 1412 or different material from thebody 1412) to provide a controlled minimum separation distance. When thefirst and second portions 1414 and 1416 are translated toward oneanother, the contact points 1424 and 1426 may contact the outer surface1410 to create a coolant cavity 1428 disposed between the coolantmanifold 1408 and the outer surface 1410. The body 1412 includes acoolant feed 1430 extending therethrough. In embodiments, the coolantfeed 1430 fluidly couples the coolant cavity 1428 to a coolant source(not depicted). Coolant from the coolant source (e.g., water vapour,helium, air, oil) may be provided through the coolant feed 1430 into thecoolant cavity 1428 such that the coolant may contact the glasscontainer 1402 to increase the heat transfer coefficient achieved viathe cooling apparatus 1400.

The body 1412 also includes fluid channels 1432 extending therethrough.The fluid channels 1432 may receive a cooling fluid from a fluid source(not depicted) so as to lower the temperature of the cooling apparatus1400. By sizing the various components (e.g., the coolant manifold 1408,the body 1412) of the cooling apparatus 1400 in a manner thatcorresponds to a specific region on the glass container 1402, intimatecontact between the glass container 1402 and the cooling apparatus 1400may be achieved to provide a sufficiently high heat transfer coefficientto induce compressive stress in the glass container 1402. That is, byspecifically designing thermal strengthening treatment processes forsub-regions on the container, intimate contact and coolant applicationto the sub-regions provide relatively high heat transfer rates foreffective thermal strengthening at a localized compressive stressregion.

While the preceding example described with respect to FIGS. 14A and 14Bis tailored to a neck region of the glass container 1402. It should beunderstood that similar sizing and configuration is possible for variousother locations depending on the type of glass containers beingstrengthened. Several other areas that it may be desirable toincorporate a localized compressive stress region include, but are notlimited to a heel region of a vial (e.g., the heel region 114 describedherein with respect to FIG. 1), a foot region of a cartridge, a neckregion of a syringe, a flange of a syringe, or anywhere else within aglass container. In embodiments, glass containers may include multiplelocalized compressive stress regions. In such embodiments, the multiplelocalized compressive stress regions may be formed in a singleprocessing step (e.g., a single cooling apparatus may include multipleaxial portions, with each portion being designed to intimately contact asub-region of the container) or separate processing steps. For example,each processing step may include a cooling apparatus similar to thecooling apparatus 1400 described with respect to FIGS. 14A and 14Bdesigned to provide intimate contact with a separate region of a glasscontainer. In embodiments, the separate processing steps to form eachlocalized compressive stress region may be separated by a heating stepto re-heat the glass container to a desired starting temperature for thethermal strengthening treatments.

Alternative methods than cooling apparatus depicted in FIGS. 14A and 14Bmay be used for the localized thermal strengthening treatments describedherein. For example, targeted application of a coolant to a specificregion of a glass container may be used to create a localizedcompressive stress region. Such embodiments may include a coolantapplicator that does not contact the glass container, but rather appliescoolant in a desired pattern to the glass container to have a desiredcooling effect. For example, the coolant may comprise a condensedcoolant (e.g., snow) or the like that may be controllably applied tovarious regions (e.g., on the both inner and outer surfaces of a glasscontainer). Water, steam, air, oil, and various other potential coolantsmay be used in such embodiments. In embodiments, an amount of coolantthat is circulated to contact the glass container (e.g., determined bycontrolling a coolant supply feed) and/or the amount of evaporation ofthe coolant upon contacting the glass container (e.g., determined by thetype of coolant used) may control the heat transfer rate. Inembodiments, the controlled cooling of the glass container for thermalstrengthening may be combined with other aspects of the conversionprocess to provide further processing efficiencies. For example, inembodiments, a forming apparatus (e.g., having a shape to contact theglass container at a forming temperature to shape the glass container)may have an integrated coolant feed such that coolant may be provided toa formed region while the region is being formed to thermally strengthenthat region. In such embodiments, oil may be used to establish a contactsurface between the forming apparatus and the glass container such thatthe contacted surface of the glass container is simultaneously formedand cooled.

It should also be understood that the localized compressive stressregions described herein may also be located on an inner surface of theouter container. For example, while a glass container is subjected tothermal strengthening via the cooling apparatus 1400 described withrespect to FIGS. 14A and 14B, an inner surface 1434 of the glasscontainer 1402 (see FIG. 14B) may be convectively cooled by air flowingthrough the processing station into which the cooling apparatus 1400 isincorporated, resulting in some degree of thermal tempering. Inembodiments, the inner surface 1434 may be cooled via a different methodthan the outer surface 1410. For example, in embodiments, a region ofthe outer surface 1410 is thermally strengthened by the coolingapparatus 1400, while a region of the inner surface 1434 is thermallystrengthened via application of a controllable coolant (e.g., snow). Inembodiments, the strengthened regions of the outer surface 1410 and theinner surface 1434 may overlap (e.g., oppose one another) to provide abalanced compressive stress profile and increased central tension tofacilitate crack branching in the event a surface flaw damages the glasscontainer 1402 beyond a threshold amount. For example, a bottom of acontainer may be cooled externally and internally to provide such abalanced stress profile to ensure separation in the event of a surfaceflaw in the bottom.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a flow diagram of a method 1500 of forming aglass container including at least one of a crack re-direction region ora localized compressive stress region is depicted. The method 1500 maybe used to form the glass container 100 described herein with respect toFIG. 1. Performance of the method 1500 may result in a glass containerlocally strengthened via the local thermal strengthening treatmentsdescribed herein in desired regions of the glass container that aresusceptible flaws that may propagate. Additionally, class containersresulting from performance of the method 1500 may re-direct crackspropagating through portions of a container that are difficult to noticeby users such that users may notice such cracks and discard crackedcontainers.

In a step 1502, a stock material formed from a glass composition isprovided. The composition of the glass article may be vary depending onthe implementation. As described herein glass containers incorporatingcrack re-direction regions may provide regions of increased centraltension resulting from CTE mismatches from ion exchange strengthening.As such, embodiments incorporating a crack re-direction region may beformed from a glass composition capable of chemical strengtheningthrough ion exchange. In embodiments, the glass composition is alkalialuminosilicate glass composition that generally includes a combinationof SiO₂ and one or more alkali oxides, such as Na₂O and/or K₂O. Theglass composition may also include Al₂O₃ and at least one alkaline earthoxide. In embodiments, borosilicate glass compositions or otheraluminosilicate compositions may be used. In embodiments, the stockmaterial formed from the glass composition may comprise a glass tubingformed from the glass composition. The glass tubing may be producedusing a Vello Process, such as the process described in U.S. Pat. No.4,023,953. Other processes, such as the Danner Process for example, maybe used to produce the glass tubing.

In a step 1504, the stock material is shaped into a glass containerhaving a body. As should be understood, the processing steps taken toform the glass container may depend on the stock material and the shapeof the glass container into which the stock material is formed. Forexample, in embodiments, the stock material may be converted into aglass container having a plurality of different shapes, such as bottles,vials, syringes, ampoules, cartridges, and other glass articles forpharmaceutical applications. The stock material may also be convertedinto glass containers for use outside of pharmaceutical applications,such as food packaging for example. In embodiments, the forming step maytake place in a converter, such as the converter 900 described hereinwith respect to FIG. 9. As described herein, the converter 900 includesa plurality processing stations 904 including, for example, one or moreheating, forming, polishing, cooling, separating, piercing, re-cladding,trimming, measuring, feeding, or discharge stations or other processingstations for producing the glass articles from the glass tubing. Inembodiments, the stock material is heated to a forming temperature abovea softening point of the glass composition via a heating station of theplurality of processing stations 904. After heating, the stock materialmay be subjected to a plurality of different forming stations to shapethe stock material into a desired glass container. For example, wherethe glass container is the vial depicted in FIG. 1, various formingstations may be used to shape the flange 126, neck region 124, shoulderregion 116, barrel 118, and heel region 114 of the glass container 100.After forming and subsequent additional steps (e.g., measuring,polishing, coating), a formed glass container may be separated from thestock material via a separation (e.g., scoring) station.

In a step 1506, a crack re-direction is formed within the glasscontainer. As described herein, the crack re-direction region may beformed at various points within the process of converting the stockmaterial into the glass container, or, alternatively, after theconversion process is completed. For example, in embodiments, theconverter 900 includes a forming station that forms at least one crackre-direction region within the glass container while the stock materialis heated above a forming temperature of the glass composition. Forexample, in embodiments, the converter 900 may include the processingstation 1000 described herein with respect to FIG. 10. At least one ofthe first laser beam source 1006 and the second laser beam source 1010may scan a laser beam (e.g., a pulsed CO₂ laser beam) across a surfaceof the stock material to form a plurality of depressions on a surface ofthe stock material such that that the glass container resulting from theconverting process includes a plurality of depressions where the glasscontainer has a minimum thickness T_(min) that is less than a wallthickness T_(W) of the glass container outside of the crack re-directionregion.

In embodiments, the crack re-direction regions may be formedsimultaneously or after formation of the localized compressive stressregions. For example, as described herein, a crack re-direction regionmay be formed by forming a reduced-density region within the glasscontainer by exposing the crack re-direction to different thermaltreatments than the remainder of the glass container. As such, inembodiments, a crack re-direction region may be formed through a thermalstrengthening step similar to those described herein with respect toFIGS. 11A-14B. For example, a cooling apparatus may contact the stockmaterial in a pattern so as to create a tensile stress differentialextending substantially perpendicular to any desired propagationdirection (e.g., in the axial direction, in the circumferentialdirection, or any combination thereof). In another example, areduced-density region may be formed by shielding the glass containerduring an anneal step after formation of the glass container (e.g.,during the step 1510).

In embodiments, the crack re-direction regions may be formed duringchemical strengthening of the glass container (e.g., during the step1512 described herein). For example, in addition to creating a featureor plurality of features on the surface of the stock material during theconversion process, an ion exchange process may be blocked at variousportions within the crack re-direction region to create complex centertension profiles for re-directing cracks. In embodiments, anycombination of the features and the methods for forming the same may beused to form any number of crack re-direction regions on the glasscontainer.

In a step 1508, a localized compressive stress region is formed withinthe glass container. In embodiments, the localized compressive stressregion is formed during the process of converting the stock materialinto the glass container. For example, in embodiments, subsequent tobeing subjected to a heating station of the converter 900 and heated toa starting temperature, the stock material may be inserted into athermal strengthening station including the cooling apparatus 1400described herein with respect to FIGS. 14A and 14B. The coolingapparatus 1400 may be specifically designed to have a surface thatcorresponds with an outer surface of the stock material so as to provideclose contact between the outer surface at a desired location for thelocalized compressive stress region to enhance a heat transfer rate.Additionally, the cooling apparatus 1400, via the coolant feed 1430, mayprovide coolant to a coolant cavity 1428 at the surface of the stockmaterial to controllably cool the stock material at a rapid rate so asto create a localized compressive stress region having a depth ofcompression that is greater than any areas of the stock material thatare adjacent to the localized compressive stress region. Alternativemethods for cooling the stock material may be used. For example,different coolants (e.g., oil, snow, etc.) may be applied to a portionof the stock material to form a localized compressive stress region in adesired position on the glass container. In embodiments, the localizedcompressive stress region may be formed after formation of the glasscontainer, where the as-formed glass container is subsequently heated toa desired starting temperature and rapidly cooled via any of the methodsdescribed herein.

In embodiments, the crack re-direction region and the localizedcompressive stress region may overlap with one another. For example, acrack re-direction region comprising a plurality of depressions may besubsequently subjected to the localized thermal strengthening treatmentsdescribed herein. Such an implementation may increase the centraltension within the crack re-direction region over embodiments where thelocalized compressive stress region does not overlap with the crackre-direction region, thus enhancing the crack re-direction capabilitiesof the crack re-direction region. Additionally, the glass container mayinclude any number of crack re-direction regions and localizedcompressive stress regions on an inner surface, an outer surface, orboth an inner surface and an outer surface.

In a step 1510, additional heat treatments are formed on the glasscontainer. For example, after formation of the glass container, theclass container may be subject to an anneal step. Such an anneal stepmay remove residual stresses in the glass container resulting fromthermal tempering induced during the converting process. In embodimentsincorporating localized compressive stress regions in areas of the glasscontainer that include such residual stresses, such an anneal step maynot be necessary for the glass container, as the areas of the glasscontainer most subjected to damage may have improved protection fromdamage. Additionally, as described herein with respect to FIG. 12C, thethermal strengthening treatments described herein may induce a temporarytensile stress within the localized compressive stress region during itsformation. Such a temporary tensile stress may induce failure indefective glass containers. That is, only relatively strong glasscontainers without flaws may survive the thermal strengtheningtreatments, reducing the need for the annealing step.

In embodiments, the glass container may be subjected to flame washingafter the conversion process. Such a flame washing step may remove orreduce surface flaws on the glass container resulting from theconversion process. In embodiments, such a flame washing step may beperformed prior to formation of the localized compressive stress regionsin the step 1508 to remove flaws that may propagate as a result of thetransient tensile stress induced via the thermal strengtheningtreatments used to form the localized compressive stress region.

In a step 1512, the glass container may be subjected to chemicalstrengthening treatments. In embodiments, the glass container may besubjected to ion exchange strengthening while be immersed in a moltensalt bath. Such ion exchange strengthening may form a compressivelystressed layer (e.g., the compressively stressed layer 202 describedherein with respect to FIG. 2) throughout the glass container. The crackre-direction regions described herein, after the chemical strengtheningstep, may possess a tensile stress distribution balancing out thecompressive stress induced via the chemical strengthening step thatpossesses a stress differential in a direction perpendicular to adesired propagation direction. In embodiments incorporating a localizedcompressive stress region, the chemical strengthening step may beeliminated as the glass container may possess sufficient durability foruse as a result of the localized compressive stress regions.

In view of the foregoing description, it should be understood thatincorporating at least one of a crack re-direction region and alocalized compressive stress region into glass containers beneficiallyimproves durability of the glass containers and/or improves thevisibility of cracks propagating through the glass containers. The crackre-direction regions may direct cracks originating from common positionsof surface flaws on the containers to regions of the glass containersnot including viewing obstructions (e.g., adhesive labels or the like)such that users of the glass containers may notice the cracks anddiscard defective glass containers prior to products contained thereinbecoming contaminated. The localized compressive stress regionsbeneficially increase a damage threshold for surface flaws to propagatethrough the glass container at regions that routinely contact externalelements (e.g., filling apparatuses, other glass containers, carriers)and render the glass containers more durable. As such, the glasscontainers described herein have improved durability over existing glasscontainers, and, in the event that a crack propagates through the glasscontainer, such a crack is re-directed to a portion of the containerwhere it may be noticed more quickly than cracks propagating throughexisting glass containers.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that anymethod set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps beperformed in a specific order, nor that with any apparatus specificorientations be required. Accordingly, where a method claim does notactually recite an order to be followed by its steps, or that anyapparatus claim does not actually recite an order or orientation toindividual components, or it is not otherwise specifically stated in theclaims or description that the steps are to be limited to a specificorder, or that a specific order or orientation to components of anapparatus is not recited, it is in no way intended that an order ororientation be inferred, in any respect. This holds for any possiblenon-express basis for interpretation, including: matters of logic withrespect to arrangement of steps, operational flow, order of components,or orientation of components; plain meaning derived from grammaticalorganization or punctuation, and; the number or type of embodimentsdescribed in the specification.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the embodiments describedherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimedsubject matter. Thus, it is intended that the specification cover themodifications and variations of the various embodiments described hereinprovided such modification and variations come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A glass container comprising: a body comprising aglass composition, the body having an interior surface, an exteriorsurface, and a wall thickness extending between the interior surface andthe exterior surface, wherein the body comprises a localized compressivestress region having a localized compressive stress extending from theexterior surface to a localized depth of compression within the body,wherein: the localized compressive stress region extends farther intothe body than any regions of compressive stress adjacent to thelocalized compressive region.
 2. The glass container of claim 1, whereinthe glass container comprises a pharmaceutical container.
 3. The glasscontainer of claim 1, wherein the localized depth of compression extendsgreater than or equal to 2% of the wall thickness and less than or equalto 25% of the wall thickness.
 4. The glass container of claim 3, whereinthe localized depth of compression extends greater than or equal to 20%of the wall thickness and less than or equal to 25% of the wallthickness.
 5. The glass container of claim 1, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region comprises a compressive stress of greater thanor equal to 50 MPa.
 6. The glass container of claim 2, wherein thelocalized compressive stress region comprises a surface compressivestress of greater than or equal to 75 MPa.
 7. The glass container ofclaim 3, wherein the surface compressive stress is greater than or equalto 100 MPa.
 8. The glass container of claim 1, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region overlaps with a compressively stressed layerof the glass container under a compressive stress such that, within thelocalized compressive stress region, the body comprises the compressivestress of the compressively stressed layer to the first depth ofcompression and the localized depth of stress from the first depth ofcompression to the localized depth of compression.
 9. The glasscontainer of claim 1, wherein the glass composition comprises analuminosilicate glass composition.
 10. The glass container of claim 1,wherein the glass container comprises a vial having a base, a barrelconnected to the base via a heel, a shoulder extending from the barrel,and a neck extending from the shoulder, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region is disposed in at least one of the neck, theheel, and the barrel.
 11. The glass container of claim 10, wherein thelocalized compressive stress region is disposed in the heel.
 12. Theglass container of claim 1, further comprising an additional localizedcompressive stress region having an additional localized compressivestress extending from the interior surface to an additional localizeddepth of compression within the body.
 13. The glass container of claim12, wherein localized compressive stress region and the additionallocalized compressive stress region oppose one another to form a regionof central tension between the localized compression stress region andthe additional localized compressive stress region, wherein the regionof central tension facilitates branching of a crack propagating throughthe wall thickness to render the glass container unusable.
 14. A glasscontainer comprising: a glass body comprising a first region under acompressive stress extending from a surface of the glass body to a depthof compression and a second region extending from the depth ofcompression into a thickness of the glass body, the second region beingunder a tensile stress; and a localized compressive stress region havinga localized compressive stress extending from the surface to a localizeddepth of compression within the body, wherein: the localized depth ofcompression is greater than or equal to 2% of the wall thickness of thebody and less than or equal to 25% of the wall thickness of the body,and the localized depth of compression is greater than the depth ofcompression of the first region.
 15. The glass container of claim 14,wherein the localized compressive stress region overlaps with the firstregion such that, within the localized compressive stress region, theglass body possesses the compressive stress of the first region to thefirst depth of compression and the localized depth of stress from thefirst depth of compression to the localized depth of compression. 16.The glass container of claim 14, wherein the localized compressivestress region comprises a compressive stress of greater than or equal to50 MPa.
 17. The glass container of claim 14, wherein the surface of theglass body is an exterior surface of the glass container.
 18. A methodforming a glass container having a localized compressive stress region,the method comprising: providing a stock material formed from a glasscomposition; shaping the stock material into a glass article having abody with a thickness extending between an interior surface and anexterior surface, the body defining an interior volume; forming alocalized compressive stress region in the glass article, the localizedcompressive stress region having a localized compressive stressextending from the exterior surface or the interior surface to alocalized depth of compression within the body, wherein the localizeddepth of compression is greater than or equal to 2% of the thickness andless than or equal to 25% of the thickness, wherein forming thelocalized compressive stress region comprises locally applying a coolantto a portion of the glass article when the glass article is heated to astarting temperature above a softening temperature of the glasscomposition such that the localized compressive stress region extendsfarther into the body than any regions of compressive stress adjacent tothe localized compressive region.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising subjecting the glass article to ion-exchange strengtheningafter forming the localized compressive stress region to form a firstregion on the exterior surface under a compressive stress, the firstregion extending from the exterior surface to a depth of compressionthat is less than the localized depth of compression.
 20. The method ofclaim 18, wherein locally applying the coolant to the portion of theglass article induces a transient tensile stress in a central portion ofthe thickness that induces propagation of any cracks formed in thecentral portion.
 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising flamewashing an entirety of the exterior surface prior to forming thelocalized compressive stress region to eliminate conversion flawsinduced by the shaping of the stock material into the glass article. 22.The method of claim 18, wherein locally applying the coolant to theportion of the glass article comprises: positioning a collar proximateto the portion of the glass article when the glass article is heated tothe starting temperature, the collar including at least one feed for thecoolant, wherein the collar is shaped in a manner that corresponds tothe portion of the glass article, wherein the collar comprises contactpoints that contact the portion of the glass article to control a gapbetween a fluid manifold of the collar and the portion of the glassarticle; and providing the coolant to the portion of the glass articleto form the localized compressive stress region.
 23. The method of claim18, wherein the glass article is not subjected to annealing heattreatments after the formation of the localized compressive stressregion.
 24. The method of claim 18, wherein the glass containercomprises a vial having a base, a barrel connected to the base via aheel, a shoulder extending from the barrel, and a neck extending fromthe shoulder, wherein the portion of the glass article to which thecoolant is applied comprises at least one of the neck and the heel
 25. Aglass container comprising: a glass body comprising a first region undera compressive stress extending from a surface of the glass body to adepth of compression and a second region extending from the depth ofcompression into a thickness of the glass body, the second region beingunder a tensile stress; a localized compressive stress region having alocalized compressive stress extending from the surface to a localizeddepth of compression within the body, wherein: the localized depth ofcompression is greater than the depth of compression of the firstregion; and a crack re-direction region in the glass body, the crackre-direction region extending in a predetermined propagation direction,wherein the crack re-direction region possesses a higher tensile stressthan the tensile stress in the second region in a sub-region of thecrack re-direction region, the sub-region extending substantiallyperpendicular to the predetermined propagation direction.
 26. The glasscontainer of claim 25, wherein the sub-region of the crack re-directionregion comprises a variation in thickness at the surface of the glassbody.
 27. The glass container of claim 26, wherein the surface of theglass body comprises an exterior surface of the glass container.
 28. Theglass container of claim 26, wherein the crack re-direction regionoverlaps with the localized compressive stress region in an overlapregion.
 29. The glass container of claim 25, wherein the localizedcompressive stress region overlaps with the first region such that,within the localized compressive stress region, the glass body possessesthe compressive stress of the first region to the first depth ofcompression and the localized depth of stress from the first depth ofcompression to the localized depth of compression.
 30. The glasscontainer of claim 25, wherein the localized compressive stress regioncomprises a compressive stress of greater than or equal to 50 MPa. 31.The glass container of claim 25, wherein the glass body is formed froman aluminosilicate glass composition.
 32. The glass container of claim25, wherein the glass container comprises a vial having a base, a barrelconnected to the base via a heel, a shoulder extending from the barrel,and a neck extending from the shoulder.
 33. The glass container of claim32, wherein the crack re-direction region is disposed in the barrelproximate to at least one of the heel and the shoulder.
 34. The glasscontainer of claim 33, wherein the localized compressive stress regionis disposed in at least one of the neck and the heel.